Introduction
In his biography of Rudyard Kipling, Sir George MacMunn drew attention to the impact on Kipling’s work, in prose as well as in verse, of the Authorized or ‘King James’ translation of the Bible, published in 1611 under King James VI and I. MacMunn reminds us that reading the King James Bible out aloud is one of the best and most proven ways for a writer to gain an appreciation of good English — and good stories.
ANYONE familiar with Kipling’s work cannot but be struck with the remarkable frequency and the way in which Old Testament names, stories, plots and analogies are introduced, always with striking effect. Apart from the glory of the Book itself, Kipling, as a great master of the more expressive English, was a lover of its rhythm and measured phrase.
It has been said that only those who have had to read the Old Testament aloud when young ever get the true cadence of the English tongue into their minds and ears, and that all writers of good prose have had this training. Since the great scholars of the Authorized Version — the “Book that made England” — wrote at perhaps the best period of the polished language — the “Sanskrit” of Anglo-Saxon — it is not to be wondered at. But since the Testaments, from a literary point of view, contain some of the best “short stories” of the world, there was this reason also for that omnivorous diver into the written word to know the Bible from cover to cover.
From ‘Rudayrd Kipling: Craftsman’ (1938) by Sir George MacMunn (1869-1952).
Précis
In his biography of Rudyard Kipling, Sir George MacMunn drew attention to the debt Kipling owed to the Bible. Like many other great writers, he said, Kipling had been encouraged to read the peerless King James translation out aloud from a young age, and it had given him a feel for good English and for a good story. (58 / 60 words)
In his biography of Rudyard Kipling, Sir George MacMunn drew attention to the debt Kipling owed to the Bible. Like many other great writers, he said, Kipling had been encouraged to read the peerless King James translation out aloud from a young age, and it had given him a feel for good English and for a good story.
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, besides, if, may, unless, until, whether, who.
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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 Cover. Period. Wonder.
2 Master. Omnivorous. Plot.
3 Anyone. Frequency. Much.
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.)
Prepositions Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below may be followed by one or more prepositions. Compose your own sentences to show which they might be. Some prepositions are given underneath.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Familiar. 2. Write. 3. Introduced.
Selected Prepositions
About. Against. Among. At. By. For. From. In. Into. Of. On. Out. Over. Through. To. Towards. Upon. With.
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Book. 2 Write. 3 Phrase. 4 Train. 5 Mind. 6 Read. 7 Introduce. 8 Make. 9 Strike.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
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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