Introduction
St Aidan (?590-651) came from the island of Iona to Northumbria during the reign of King Oswald, and remained there under Oswald’s successors until his death in 651. He settled himself on the island of Lindisfarne.
A FORTRESS was raised at Bamburgh by Ida, the first King of the coastal Kingdom of Bernicia, in 548. At that time, it was called Dinguoaroy; it was later named Bebbanburgh after Bebba, wife of Ida’s grandson Æthelfrith.*
It stood (as Bamburgh Castle does today) high on a rocky eminence overlooking the North Sea. From its walls, the island and monastery of Lindisfarne were clearly visible across Budle Water.
Early in 651 Aidan was in his private room in the monastery when he noticed black smoke and flames rising from Bamburgh: King Penda of Mercia had stripped every plank of wood and handful of thatch from the town, and was setting fire to the castle’s wooden gates, assisted by a lively breeze.
Aghast, Aidan cried out “Behold, Lord, how great mischief Penda does!” The words were barely out of his mouth, when the wind switched round, and fanned the flames towards Penda’s men as they ran for their lives.
They did not attack again.
There are several spellings of this name. ‘Dinguoaroy’ is the form it receives in the 9th century ‘Historia Brittonum’ by Nennius.
Précis
In 651, King Penda of Mercia laid siege to Bamburgh Castle, capital of Bernicia, hoping to burn down its wooden gates. But St Aidan, on the island of Lindisfarne across the bay, saw the smoke of the burning and called on God. At once a brisk wind blew the flames back on the beseigers, and put them to flight. (59 / 60 words)
In 651, King Penda of Mercia laid siege to Bamburgh Castle, capital of Bernicia, hoping to burn down its wooden gates. But St Aidan, on the island of Lindisfarne across the bay, saw the smoke of the burning and called on God. At once a brisk wind blew the flames back on the beseigers, and put them to flight.
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, just, not, otherwise, unless, until, who.
Archive
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 Again. Clear. Fortress.
2 Man. Name. Not.
3 Assist. Island. Rise.
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.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Room. 2 Call. 3 Time. 4 Man. 5 Fan. 6 Set. 7 Smoke. 8 Run. 9 Stand.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
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.
strts (6)
austerities. saturates. starts. straits. streets. struts.
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