Introduction
Oswald was King of Northumbria from 634 to 642, when he was defeated, aged 38, in battle by the pagan King Penda at Maserfield near modern-day Oswestry in Shropshire. He was soon venerated as a saint, for his own piety, and for bringing St Aidan over from Iona to preach Christianity with a simple kindness others had not shown.
IN 642, King Oswald of Northumbria fell in battle against invaders from Mercia.* Near the place stood an inn, and one day not long afterwards a traveller rode up, looking for a bed.
The landlord was inclined to talk, and confided that he was anxious about his niece, who was paralysed, and seemed to be failing. In turn, his guest told him about his horse, which only a few miles back had suffered a dreadful fit, but recovered amazingly after rolling onto a patch of grass. Was there anything special about that place?
Indeed there was, said the landlord. That was where good King Oswald fell, a true Christian to the poor and sick alike. So they fetched a cart, and after trundling the helpless girl out to that exact spot, laid her down expectantly. She promptly fell asleep.
But when she awoke, she splashed some water on her face, got to her feet, adjusted her hair and bonnet, and walked all the way home.
Oswald died at the Battle of Maserfield, traditionally identified with Oswestry in Shropshire. If this was indeed the battlefield, then Oswald was in enemy territory, taking the fight to the invaders. Penda was himself defeated by Oswald’s brother Oswy (Oswiu) at The Battle of the Winwaed in 655.
Précis
Shortly after the Battle of Maserfield in 642, a traveller told a Shropshire landlord how his horse had miraculously recovered from a fit nearby. The landlord guessed it was where saintly King Oswald had fallen in battle, and resolved to take his paralysed niece there. After a brief nap on the spot, the girl was cured and walked home unaided. (60 / 60 words)
Shortly after the Battle of Maserfield in 642, a traveller told a Shropshire landlord how his horse had miraculously recovered from a fit nearby. The landlord guessed it was where saintly King Oswald had fallen in battle, and resolved to take his paralysed niece there. After a brief nap on the spot, the girl was cured and walked home unaided.
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: although, because, despite, may, must, ought, until, whether.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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 All. Have. Splash.
2 Poor. Say. Up.
3 Amaze. Down. Near.
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 Help. 2 Stand. 3 Talk. 4 Turn. 5 Recover. 6 Seem. 7 Face. 8 Place. 9 Ride.
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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