Introduction
Early in the Great War, Richard Hannay is in Constantinople, in pursuit of a German secret agent named Hilda von Einem. Hilda has duped a dreamy Muslim mystic into believing Germany shares his vision for society, and as Sandy Arbuthnot explains, that could be very bad both for the Arab world and for England.
“TELL me, Dick, what do you think of
her?”
“I thought she was about two parts mad, but the third part was
uncommon like inspiration.”
“That’s about right,” he said. “She runs the prophet just because
she shares his belief. Only what in him is sane and fine, in her is
mad and horrible. You see, Germany also wants to simplify life.”
“I know,” I said. “I told her that an hour ago, when I talked more
rot to the second than any normal man ever achieved. It will come
between me and my sleep for the rest of my days.”
“She wants to destroy and simplify; but it isn’t the simplicity of
the ascetic, which is of the spirit, but the simplicity of the madman
that grinds down all the contrivances of civilization to a featureless
monotony. The prophet wants to save the souls of his people; Germany
wants to rule the inanimate corpse of the world. But you can get the
same language to cover both.”
By
John Buchan
1875-1940
From
‘Greenmantle’ by John Buchan.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author
aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that
strike you. How do they help the author communicate his
ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you?
How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939)
by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at
Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn,
Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University,
USA.
Précis
Sandy Arbuthnot asks for Richard Hannay’s opinion of Hilda von
Einem, a German spy, and Hannay replies that she is both mad and visionary.
Sandy concurs. At first hearing, her goals sound as noble as those of her tame
Muslim prophet, but where he preaches the self-denial of the ascetic, she
demands servitude to Germany’s new world order.
(58 / 60 words)
Sandy Arbuthnot asks for Richard Hannay’s opinion of Hilda von
Einem, a German spy, and Hannay replies that she is both mad and visionary.
Sandy concurs. At first hearing, her goals sound as noble as those of her tame
Muslim prophet, but where he preaches the self-denial of the ascetic, she
demands servitude to Germany’s new world order.
Edit
|
Reset
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: about, although, despite, or, ought, since, unless, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
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.
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.
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
Down.
Inanimate.
Just.
2
Come.
Contrivance.
Grind.
3
Civilization.
Rot.
Soul.
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.)
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.
mntng
(5)
See Words
amounting.
emanating.
minting.
minuting.
mounting.
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or ask for help with any of the
exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
nicholas@claylane.uk
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