Introduction
At the end of William Shakespeare’s play The Life and Death of King John, written in about 1594-96, the King has just died an untimely death; with him has died the threat of a French invasion, and John’s heir Henry has returned home to England to assume the crown. Henry’s cousin Philip Faulconbridge heaves a sigh of relief, and draws an optimistic moral from all that has gone before.
O, LET us pay the time but needful woe,
Since it hath been beforehand with our griefs.*
This England never did, nor never shall,
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror,
But when it first did help to wound itself.
Now these her princes are come home again,*
Come the three corners of the world in arms,
And we shall shock them. Nought shall make us rue,
If England to itself do rest but true.
* Philip is saying that there is no need to overdo the mourning for King John, since the country has had enough grief already from anticipating a French invasion that never came.
* In the play, the most prominent English noblemen are Prince Henry, John’s son, who came to the throne as King Henry III (r. 1216-1272); Geoffrey FitzPeter, Earl of Essex; William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury; William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke; and Roger Bigod or Bigot, Earl of Norfolk.
Précis
At the close of William Shakespeare’s play The Life and Death of King John, Philip Faulconbridge expressed his hope that England would quickly get over John’s death and the threat of a French invasion. So long as we stick together, he said, and do not undermine our own country, we have nothing to fear from foreign powers. (57 / 60 words)
At the close of William Shakespeare’s play The Life and Death of King John, Philip Faulconbridge expressed his hope that England would quickly get over John’s death and the threat of a French invasion. So long as we stick together, he said, and do not undermine our own country, we have nothing to fear from foreign powers.
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, because, besides, just, or, otherwise, whereas, who.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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 Beforehand. If. Prince.
2 Now. Shall. Shock.
3 Her. Wind. World.
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 Time. 2 Let. 3 Help. 4 Rest. 5 Wind. 6 Pay. 7 Arm. 8 Lie. 9 Make.
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
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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