Introduction
Polydectes, King of Seriphos, sent Perseus to get the vile Gorgon’s head, thinking it was a hopeless errand that would lead to the boy’s death.
POLYDECTES, King of Seriphos, coveted Danaë, but he was afraid of her young son Perseus.
So the King demanded that the boy leave the island, and not return without the head of the Gorgon Medusa, so hideous that to look on her would turn a man to stone.
As he went, Perseus met Athene, who gave him a shield polished like a mirror, and a sword of adamant.
Nymphs gave him a helmet too, brought from Hades itself, which shrouded him in darkness as Perseus crept into Medusa’s den.
Using the reflection in the shield, Perseus did not have to look on the Gorgon directly, and with a single stroke he swept off her head as she slept.
When he returned to Seriphos, Perseus found his mother still harassed by Polydectes. He brandished the Gorgon’s head before the King’s horrified eyes, and turned him to stone.
Précis
Polydectes sent Perseus to fetch the head of a Gorgon named Medusa, the sight of which would turn any man to stone. Looking only at her reflection in his polished shield, Perseus beheaded the Gorgon, and then took his revenge by thrusting the severed head in front of Polydectes’s eyes. (50 / 60 words)
Polydectes sent Perseus to fetch the head of a Gorgon named Medusa, the sight of which would turn any man to stone. Looking only at her reflection in his polished shield, Perseus beheaded the Gorgon, and then took his revenge by thrusting the severed head in front of Polydectes’s eyes.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, besides, may, not, since, whereas, whether.
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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 Covet. Head. Meet.
2 Leave. Mirror. Son.
3 Single. So. Too.
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.)
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.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Sleep. 2. Single. 3. Reflection. 4. Man. 5. Mirror. 6. King. 7. Meet. 8. Use. 9. Leave.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
swp (5)
swap. sweep. swipe. swoop. swop.
