Washington Irving (1783-1859) by John Wesley Jarvis (1781–1839), painted in 1809, about six years before he left the newly-formed United States of America for what he expected to be a short trip to England. In the event he stayed in Europe for seventeen years, touring the Continent and serving as Secretary to the American legation in London. This stood him in good stead when in 1842 he was appointed US Minister to Spain. Irving returned to America four years later, and remained there for the rest of his days, working on his magnum opus, a biography of George Washington. The story which made his name, however, had been written long before in Birmingham, and published in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon: The Tale of Rip van Winkle.
THERE was an extraordinary hurry of the footman to alight, pull down the steps, and prepare every thing for the descent on earth of this august family. The old citizen first emerged his round red face from out the door, looking about him with the pompous air of a man accustomed to rule on ’Change,* and shake the Stock Market with a nod. His consort, a fine, fleshy, comfortable dame, followed him. Life was to her a perpetual revel; it was one long Lord Mayor’s day. Two daughters succeeded to this goodly couple. They descended loftily from the carriage, and moved up the line of peasantry with a step that seemed dainty of the soil it trod on. They cast an exclusive glance around, that passed coldly over the burly faces of the peasantry, until they met the eyes of the nobleman’s family, when their countenances immediately brightened into smiles, and they made the most profound and elegant courtesies, which were returned in a manner that showed they were but slight acquaintances.
Abridged
Abridged from ‘The Sketch-Book of Geoffrey Crayon’ (1820, 1905) by Washington Irving (1783-1859).
* That is, the Stock Exchange.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
The appearance of the passengers from within the carriage did nothing to change Irving’s unfavourable first impressions. The City man was full of bluster, his wife cheerfully out of place, and his daughters would not meet any eye except the eyes of their titled neighbours — who seemed, however, as eager as good breeding allowed not to meet theirs. (58 / 60 words)
The appearance of the passengers from within the carriage did nothing to change Irving’s unfavourable first impressions. The City man was full of bluster, his wife cheerfully out of place, and his daughters would not meet any eye except the eyes of their titled neighbours — who seemed, however, as eager as good breeding allowed not to meet theirs.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, if, just, may, otherwise, since, until, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 I. Day. Move.
2 Humble. Little. Two.
3 Harness. Morbid. Pride.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Sink. 2. Good. 3. Growth. 4. Foot. 5. Close. 6. Move. 7. Pass. 8. Day. 9. Step.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Prepositions Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below may be followed by one or more prepositions. Compose your own sentences to show which they might be. Some prepositions are given underneath.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Succeed. 2. Consist. 3. Glance. 4. Prepare.
Selected Prepositions
About. Against. Among. At. By. For. From. In. Into. Of. On. Out. Over. Through. To. Towards. Upon. With.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
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Your Words ()
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