Introduction
Hilaire Belloc’s Cautionary Tales for Children first appeared in 1907. For nearly two hundred years, writers of the calibre of Isaac Watts had been turning out poetry of moral improvement for children, and for almost as long writers of the calibre of Lewis Carroll had been poking fun at it. This was the first tale in Belloc’s collection.
There was a Boy whose name was Jim;
His Friends were very good to him.
They gave him Tea, and Cakes, and Jam,
And slices of delicious Ham,
And Chocolate with pink inside,
And little Tricycles to ride,
And read him Stories through and through,
And even took him to the Zoo —
But there it was the dreadful Fate
Befell him, which I now relate.
You know — at least you ought to know,
For I have often told you so—
That Children never are allowed
To leave their Nurses in a Crowd;
Now this was Jim’s especial Foible,
He ran away when he was able,
And on this inauspicious day
He slipped his hand and ran away
He hadn’t gone a yard when — Bang!
With open Jaws, a Lion sprang,
And hungrily began to eat
The Boy: beginning at his feet.
Now just imagine how it feels
When first your toes and then your heels,
And then by gradual degrees,
Your shins and ankles, calves and knees,
Are slowly eaten, bit by bit.
No wonder Jim detested it.
No wonder that he shouted “Hi!”
Précis
Hilaire Belloc’s ‘Cautionary Tales’ begin with Jim. His parents have lavished every care and attention upon, but Jim is headstrong. On a visit to the zoo, he ignores their advice and gives his nurse the slip. Almost at once he is punished. A lion grabs him, and begins to eat him, feet first, unmoved by Jim’s piercing cries for help. (60 / 60 words)
Hilaire Belloc’s ‘Cautionary Tales’ begin with Jim. His parents have lavished every care and attention upon, but Jim is headstrong. On a visit to the zoo, he ignores their advice and gives his nurse the slip. Almost at once he is punished. A lion grabs him, and begins to eat him, feet first, unmoved by Jim’s piercing cries for help.
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, despite, may, must, not, ought, since, unless.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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