Introduction
George Gordon Byron, one of the greatest of all English romantic poets, died in 1824, aged just 36, in Missolonghi, Greece. Yet he played a key part in liberating Greece from almost four hundred years of oppression by the Ottoman Empire.
IN 1815, the poet Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke in Seaham Hall, County Durham.
In that same year, and in that same town, a small trading ship was launched, named Hercules after the legendary Greek hero.
Eight years later, the ship’s captain suddenly decided to make a fresh start, and sailed for the Italian city of Genoa.
By coincidence, Genoa was now home to Lord Byron. He was itching to get involved in Greece’s bid for independence from Ottoman rule, and chartered Hercules to take him to Kefalonia.
After refitting the Greek fleet at his own expense, Byron made a goodwill tour of Missolonghi on the Gulf of Patras, which had just endured a bitter siege.*
Byron’s public support emboldened the British government to throw its own weight behind Greece, which finally gained independence in 1832.
But Hercules never came to the Mediterranean again. Her labours ended in 1852, when she sank a few miles south of Seaham.
The Second Siege of Missolonghi (September 20 to November 20, 1823). You can read about the third and more famous siege here: The Third Siege of Missolonghi.
Précis
Lord Byron, a strong supporter of the Greek independence movement in the 1820s, was in Italy when he chanced across a ship named Hercules, built in the little County Durham town where he had married. He took it to Greece, and his influence there helped to turn the tide for the Greeks. (52 / 60 words)
Lord Byron, a strong supporter of the Greek independence movement in the 1820s, was in Italy when he chanced across a ship named Hercules, built in the little County Durham town where he had married. He took it to Greece, and his influence there helped to turn the tide for the Greeks.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, despite, if, must, not, or, whether.
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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 After. Her. Start.
2 Few. Own. Sudden.
3 Bitter. Come. Year.
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.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
plt (9+1)
palate. pelt. pilot. plait. plate. plateau. pleat. plot. polite.
epaulet.
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