Introduction
Beowulf has driven Grendel, the man-eating ogre, from Hrothgar’s hall and mortally wounded him. Thinking his mission complete, Beowulf took his leave of Hrothgar, only for the creature’s anguished mother to steal into the king’s hall and snatch his bosom friend in revenge. Now she has vanished beneath the waters of a mire, but Beowulf is not to be put off. Commending his soul to God, Beowulf leaps after her.
HE leaped from the bluff — the eddying flood engulfed him. So deep was the mere, that it took some time before, sinking, he reached the bottom. Soon the grim creature that for a hundred seasons had kept house in the watery realm perceived that one of the children of men was coming from above, exploring the goblins’ home. She made a grab at him and clutched him in her grisly talons, but could not pierce the well-knit ring mail which fenced him around. But she bore him to her mansion at the bottom of the lake, so swiftly that, although his heart did not fail, he was powerless to use his weapons, the more that countless water-beasts harassed him in swimming, battering at him with tusk and claw.
At length the earl felt the grip loosened on him, and as he hurriedly cast his eye around, he perceived that he was in a vast hall, high-roofed, and protected from the water on all sides; it was light, too, with an eerie, bright lustre, something like firelight.
Précis
After her wild attack on Hrothgar’s hall in revenge for the death of her son, Grendel’s mother sought refuge in her lair beneath a mire. Beowulf leapt recklessly after her into the waters, and sank down until the hag herself drew him into a vast submarine chamber, tall, dry and strewn with grisly mementos of her human prey. (58 / 60 words)
After her wild attack on Hrothgar’s hall in revenge for the death of her son, Grendel’s mother sought refuge in her lair beneath a mire. Beowulf leapt recklessly after her into the waters, and sank down until the hag herself drew him into a vast submarine chamber, tall, dry and strewn with grisly mementos of her human prey.
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, if, must, not, whereas, whether, who.
Word Games
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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