Introduction
The powerful Earl Godwin, a rough Saxon and an ambitious man, gave his support to King Edward the Confessor on condition that he marry Godwin’s daughter Edith.
IT was said throughout England that ‘Even as the rose springs from the thorn, so springs Edith from Godwin.’
Ingulf, the Abbot of Croyland, later recalled that when he was a schoolboy, Edith would examine him on his studies, and then having pressed a few coins into his hand, send him to the larder for a treat.
Edward, brought up among the Dukes of Normandy by his uncle Richard the Good, was also gentler than the times in which he lived — as we learn from the tale of a thief who crept into the king’s bedroom one night, and took money from a strongbox.
Edward pretended to be asleep, and said nothing. But when it happened again the following night, he unexpectedly mumbled from between the sheets: ‘Better take care. If Hugolin, my chamberlain, catches you, he will give you a thrashing.’
Hugolin soon came in, and was beside himself at the loss. ‘Never mind,’ said the King; ‘the poor man wants it more than we do.’
Précis
The powerful Earl Godwin in the eleventh century had a daughter named Edith, who was so different from him that she was likened to a rose among the thorns. She married King Edward the Confessor, who was also unusually fair and kind, even allowing a thief to go free because he was poor. (53 / 60 words)
The powerful Earl Godwin in the eleventh century had a daughter named Edith, who was so different from him that she was likened to a rose among the thorns. She married King Edward the Confessor, who was also unusually fair and kind, even allowing a thief to go free because he was poor.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, may, must, or, otherwise, ought, unless, 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 Have. Take. You.
2 Following. Up. Would.
3 Give. My. Spring.
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.
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Rose. 2. Well. 3. Spring. 4. Mine. 5. Live. 6. Even. 7. Man.
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 ()
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