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Introduction
In 984, exiled Norwegian prince Olaf Tryggvason lost his wife Geira, and went on a four-year grief-stricken rampage through Britain, before suddenly becoming a Christian in the Isles of Scilly. Hearing that Gyda, the King of Dublin’s sister, had summoned a Thing (a Viking council) to choose a husband, Olaf returned to England.
GYDA had been married to a great earl in England, and after his death she was at the head of his dominions.* In her territory there was a man called Alfin, who was a great champion and single-combat man. He had paid his addresses to her; but she gave for answer, that she herself would choose whom of the men in her dominions she would take in marriage; and on that account the Thing was assembled,* that she might choose a husband. Alfin came there dressed out in his best clothes, and there were many well-dressed men at the meeting. Olaf had come there also; but had on his bad-weather clothes, and a coarse over-garment, and stood with his people apart from the rest of the crowd.
Gyda went round and looked at each, to see if any appeared to her a suitable man. Now when she came to where Olaf stood she looked at him straight in the face, and asked “what sort of man he was?”
Snorro tells us that Gyda (or Gytha) was the daughter of Amlaíb Cuarán, sometime King of Dublin and Northumbria, who was known to the Norse as Óláfr Sigtryggsson. At the time of the events in this story, the crown was held by her brother Glúniairn (Járnkné).
A Thing or Ting (Old English þing) is a meeting, a word still visible in English ‘hustings’ and in the Tynwald, the Parliament of the Isle of Man.
Précis
Back in the tenth century, a noble English widow decided to advertise for a new husband, and being of Viking descent summoned a Thing in order to find a suitable candidate. The Norse adventurer Olaf Tryggvason heard of it, and wearing his travel-stained clothes joined the company of eager and well-dressed suitors, catching the widow’s eye. (56 / 60 words)
Back in the tenth century, a noble English widow decided to advertise for a new husband, and being of Viking descent summoned a Thing in order to find a suitable candidate. The Norse adventurer Olaf Tryggvason heard of it, and wearing his travel-stained clothes joined the company of eager and well-dressed suitors, catching the widow’s eye.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, or, ought, since, until, whether, who.
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.
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.
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