Introduction
Brutus, Caesar’s assassin, is urging Cassius to march on Philippi to meet Octavius (Octavian) and Anthony in the struggle for power in Rome. Cassius is reluctant, but Brutus argues that it must be now or never.
OUR legions are
brim-full, our cause is ripe:
The enemy increaseth every day;
We, at the height, are ready to
decline.
There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows, and in miseries:
On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.
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
Brutus points out that while their own forces are at their peak, and can only weaken, Octavius and Antony are getting stronger. So this, he tells Cassius, is one of those times when an opportunity must be grasped with both hands, because it will never come again, and all that will be left is bitter regret. (56 / 60 words)
Brutus points out that while their own forces are at their peak, and can only weaken, Octavius and Antony are getting stronger. So this, he tells Cassius, is one of those times when an opportunity must be grasped with both hands, because it will never come again, and all that will be left is bitter regret.
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: may, or, otherwise, ought, until, whereas, whether, who.
Archive
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 Bound. Must. We.
2 Affair. Ready. Serve.
3 Man. Such. Voyage.
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.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Life. 2. Day. 3. Height. 4. Sea. 5. Cause. 6. Lead. 7. Serve. 8. Man. 9. Affair.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
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.
prsn (5)
parson. person. persona. personae. prison.
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:
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.
Related Posts
Picture: By Alfred Dedreux (1810-1860), Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted February 1 2019
Viola tries to tell Orsino, Duke of Illyria, that his beloved Olivia is not the only woman deserving of his attention.
Picture: By Frederick Richard Pickersgill (1820-1900), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted August 3 2017
John of Gaunt watches in despair as his country is milked for its wealth and shared out among the king’s favourites.
Picture: © Karl and Ali, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted March 16 2016