Introduction
Odysseus, King of Ithaca, is sailing homeward after taking part in the Siege of Troy. Looking back, he recalls how on Circe’s advice his journey took him to the black rivers of Hades, and how at the confluence of the Periphlegethon and the Cocytus he offered sacrifice. A pale crowd of the shades of men rose about him, and among them were Tantalus and Sisyphus.
And I saw Tantalus in violent torment, standing in a pool, and the water came nigh unto his chin. He seemed as one athirst, but could not take and drink; for as often as that old man stooped down, eager to drink, so often would the water be swallowed up and vanish away, and at his feet the black earth would appear, for some god made all dry. And trees, high and leafy, let stream their fruits above his head, pears, and pomegranates, and apple trees with their bright fruit, and sweet figs, and luxuriant olives. But as often as that old man would reach out toward these, to clutch them with his hands, the wind would toss them to the shadowy clouds.
Aye, and I saw Sisyphus in violent torment, seeking to raise a monstrous stone with both his hands. Verily he would brace himself with hands and feet, and thrust the stone toward the crest of a hill, but as often as he was about to heave it over the top, the weight would turn it back, and then down again to the plain would come rolling the ruthless stone. But he would strain again and thrust it back, and the sweat flowed down from his limbs, and dust rose up from his head.
Précis
When Homer’s mythical king Odysseus visited the Underworld, he saw how Tantalus was doomed to stand beneath a tree whose fruit was just beyond his grasp, in water that receded whenever he tried to drink. But Sisyphus was given a rock to roll up a hill; whenever it neared the top, it rolled back down, leaving Sisyphus to begin again. (60 / 60 words)
When Homer’s mythical king Odysseus visited the Underworld, he saw how Tantalus was doomed to stand beneath a tree whose fruit was just beyond his grasp, in water that receded whenever he tried to drink. But Sisyphus was given a rock to roll up a hill; whenever it neared the top, it rolled back down, leaving Sisyphus to begin again.
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, may, otherwise, ought, until, who.
Archive
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 Back. Pomegranate. Thrust.
2 Dry. He. Pear.
3 Nigh. Reach. Seek.
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.
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Shadowy. 2 Top. 3 High. 4 Drunk. 5 Plain. 6 Monstrous. 7 Eager. 8 Fruitful. 9 Violent.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
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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