Introduction
Pygmalion assumed that Aphrodite, goddess of pure love, would bless a romance free from fleshly passion, but he had misunderstood the true meaning of purity.
SOON after Orpheus wedded Eurydice, his cherished wife died, and could not be restored to life; and he grieved for her, singing to the accompaniment of his lyre.
One of his songs was of Pygmalion of Cyprus.
Disgusted by the daughters of Propoetus, who had mocked Aphrodite and fallen into prostitution, Pygmalion fashioned for himself the one woman of perfect, unsullied purity: a statue in milk-white marble.
Pygmalion dressed it in fine linen, and hung jewels upon it, and named it Galatea. But if he kissed its lips, they were cold as any stone.
It was on Aphrodite’s feast day that Pygmalion at last begged her to give his idol the one perfection that he himself could not. One more time Pygmalion kissed the cold lips, he reached out and touched the unyielding skin: and found her soft, and warm.
So sang Orpheus; but Eurydice was still cold as any stone.
Précis
Pygmalion wanted a pure love worthy of Aphrodite, so he made himself a marble statue of a woman. He realized eventually that there is no true love without risk, however, so he begged Aphrodite to bring the statue to life, and she granted his wish. (45 / 60 words)
Pygmalion wanted a pure love worthy of Aphrodite, so he made himself a marble statue of a woman. He realized eventually that there is no true love without risk, however, so he begged Aphrodite to bring the statue to life, and she granted his wish.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 40 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: despite, just, may, otherwise, ought, since, until, whereas.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. 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 Dress. Grieve. He.
2 Mock. Soft. Time.
3 Give. If. Marble.
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.)
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. Life. 2. Name. 3. Wife. 4. Dress. 5. Time. 6. Song. 7. Fall. 8. Cold. 9. Reach.
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.
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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