Introduction
Like the Fable of Heracles and the Waggoner, this is a tale about doing all you can before asking for help. Sir Roger L’Estrange, however, took it further. Mindful of the secularism gaining ground in English society, he said the story was a warning to those who give up on religion when trivial matters do not go their way.
THERE was a Fellow, that upon a Flea-Biting call’d out to Hercules for Help.* The Flea gets away, and the Man Expostulates upon the Matter. Well! Hercules; (says he) You that would not take My Part against a Sorry Flea, will never stand by me in a Time of Need, against a more Powerful Enemy.
We Neglect God in Greater Matters, and Petition him for Trifles, nay and Take Pet at last if we cannot have our Askings. [...] If we cannot Obtain Every Vain Thing we ask, our next Bus’ness is to take Pet at the Refusal, nay and in Revenge to give over Praying for Good and All; and so to Renounce Heaven for a Flea-biting.
Abridged
* For a related Fable, see Heracles and the Waggoner.
Précis
Sir Roger L’Estrange retold the fable of how Hercules refused to help a man tackle a troublesome flea. The man complained that the god’s failure to intervene proved how weak he really was; but Sir Roger drew another moral: that too often, men give up on praying about serious matters simply because God does not indulge them over trifling ones. (60 / 60 words)
Sir Roger L’Estrange retold the fable of how Hercules refused to help a man tackle a troublesome flea. The man complained that the god’s failure to intervene proved how weak he really was; but Sir Roger drew another moral: that too often, men give up on praying about serious matters simply because God does not indulge them over trifling ones.
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, or, otherwise, unless, whereas, whether.
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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 Ask. Heaven. Obtain.
2 Every. He. Never.
3 Good. Stand. Vain.
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.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding dis-.
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.
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?
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