Think and Speak

Exercises

Pen Portraits

Develop your vocabulary and exercise your imagination by conjuring up a mermaid on the shore, or a train waiting at the station.

By Clay Lane

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Coventry Patmore, by John Singer Sargent (1856–1925).

By John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

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Pen Portraits

By John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain. Source

Coventry Patmore, by John Singer Sargent (1856–1925).

Coventry Patmore (1823-1896), the English poet, sketched in 1896 by American artist John Singer Sargent (1856–1925). Patmore is best known for The Angel of the House (1854-1862), a series of meditations on marriage centred on his first wife Emily Augusta Patmore, née Andrews. Patmore was widowed twice, and married three times.

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Exercises (34) Vocabulary (15)

Introduction

Choose one of the nouns below, and then collect as many words connected with it as you can. When you have gathered at least three words, see if you can compose an interesting scene or little story from them. You will find this much easier if you remember to include some sort of action.

It should go without saying, that you may choose a male or female character wherever relevant.

1. A private detective.

2. A rowing boat.

3. An orchestra.

4. A blacksmith.

5. An athlete.

6. A security guard.

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