Introduction
Cynewulf (possibly the 8th century bishop Cynewulf of Lindisfarne) presents the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a choice given to all mankind: what kind of life do we want in the hereafter, and what are we prepared to do in order to obtain it?
Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in.
OPEN, ye gates! Creation’s King would enter his citadel, would lead into the joy of joys a people (they are no small company) snatched from the devil by his Victory. Affinity shall angels and men have for ever after. There is a covenant together between God and man, a spiritual pledge: love, hope of life, all the joys of light.
Listen! We have heard how that holy child, the famous Son of the Measurer,* by his advent restored health to us, who dwell beneath the skies, freed us, and kept us free; that now each man living, while yet he remains here, might choose whether
disgrace of hell, or glory of heaven,
light of lights, or hateful night,
exultant choir, or grief in the shadows,
joy of the Lord, or clamour of devils,
punishment with wrath, or glory with honour,
life, or death,
is what he longs to achieve, while flesh and spirit dwell yet in the world. Glory be to the mighty Trinity, and endless gratitude!
‘The Measurer’ is a name for God as the one who creates all things and knows all things, based on such passages as Habakkuk 3:6, Isaiah 40:11-12 and 2 Esdras 16:56-59.
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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 Affinity. Gate. No.
2 Health. Trinity. We.
3 King. Up. Yet.
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.)
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Choose. 2 Lift. 3 Man. 4 Achieve. 5 Love. 6 People. 7 Enter. 8 Spirit. 9 End.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Hate. 2 Keep. 3 End. 4 Lead. 5 Lift. 6 Man. 7 Honour. 8 People. 9 Love.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
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?
Your Words ()
