Episode 2 of 6 in the Series
The Saga of Olaf Tryggvason
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?”
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.
Edit
|
Reset
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, may, must, not, or, ought, until, who.
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.
Post Box
: Ask Nicholas
Grok
: Ask Grok
You are welcome to share your creativity with me,
or ask for help with any of the
exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
nicholas@claylane.uk
See more at Post Box.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane,
from time to time you could
buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a
Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed
to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a
Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and
there is no need to register.
.jpg){kind=link}