‘A Mermaid’, by John William Waterhouse (1849–1916).
‘A Mermaid’, painted in 1892 by English artist John William Waterhouse (1849–1916). Mermaids belong to the same mythological family as the Sirens, who distracted Odysseus and his crew on their long voyage to Ithaca: see Odysseus and the Sirens. However, unlike mermaids the Sirens were not originally supposed to be sea-creatures. In the imagination of the ancient Greeks, they resembled birds. The earliest reference to fish-tailed sirens comes from Liber Monstrorum de Diversis Generibus (‘A Book of Monsters of Various Kinds’), a collection of over a hundred pen-portraits of strange and fabulous creatures compiled around AD 700. It is closely bound up with the Beowulf tradition and Anglo-Saxon England.
Worksheet No. 2
These Worksheets are based on textbooks written by NL Clay (1905-1991) and used in English schools from the 1920s to the 1960s. They focus on vocabulary, sentence structure, and clear speaking. They are best studied in pairs or small groups, because that allows you to pool ideas and encourages you to speak; but you may of course share your sentences with me.
Composition
For each group of words, compose a single sentence that uses at least one of them. They are generated randomly from a list of very common English words.
I. Story. More. Single.
II. Attack. Administration. Investment.
III. Television. Picture. Body.
See more Spinners.
Homonyms
Show by means of sentences that each of these words can have at least two quite different meanings.
IBox. IIPretty. IIIWear.
See more Homonyms.
Observation
Choose one of the words below, and suggest things connected with it. When you have collected at least three words, try to gather as many as you can into one sentence, making a picture or story if possible.
IHorse. IIMermaid. IIIOrchestra.
Baton. Bit. Brass. Bridle. Comb. Concerto. Conductor. Hair. Mane. Neigh. Perform. Podium. Race. Rein. Rock. Saddle. Scales. Seaweed. Shoe. Sing. Sit. Soloist. Strings. Symphony. Tail. Violin. Waggon. Whinny. Woodwind.
See more Pen Portraits.
Vocabulary
Rewrite each sentence below, keeping the same meaning but avoiding any word in italics. In some cases it may be necessary to make extensive changes to the sentence.
‘The ship struck a rock’ → ‘The ship hit a rock’.
IStrike that sentence. IIAfter a brief struggle, they struck their flag. IIIAfter breakfast we struck camp. IVHe struck a match. VHe was stricken with remorse. VIHer plan struck me as clever. VIIHer words struck home. VIIIThe clock struck one. IXThe orchestra struck up ‘God Save the King’. XThe whole labour force will strike. XIThey had struck up a friendship over golf. XIIWe struck for home. XIIIWe must strike a balance. XIVWe’ve struck gold! XV‘Are you sure?’ he struck in. XVI‘It strikes at the heart of everything we stand for!’ he cried.
Grammar
Compose a sentence for each word in these pairs.
IAngry, angrily. IIFrequent, frequently. IIISafe, safely.
Culture
Give the English name for each of the following places.
IChennai. IIFirenze. IIIMagyarország. IVMoskva. VMünchen. VINippon. VIIParis. VIIISuomi.
Finland. Florence. Hungary. Japan. Madras. Moscow. Munich. Paris.
Narration
Turn these notes into a short passage of continuous prose. The story comes from The Odyssey by ancient Greek poet Homer.
Odysseus on Circe’s island. Ready to leave for Ithaca. Circe warned him. You will pass the sirens. They live in a meadow. They lure sailors in with their songs. The sailors never come out again. Odysseus sailed away. Reached the sirens. Stopped his crew’s ears with wax. Odysseus wanted to hear the song. Did not stop his ears. Made crew bind him to the mast. Listened to the song. Begged crew to let him go. Refused. Ship passed out of earshot. Crew released Odysseus. He thanked them.
Elocution
Read each group of words out clearly:
IBeauty, booty. IIBower, power. IIIBreathe, breath. IVCheap, cheaper. VChoice, Joyce. VIDream, drum. VIIIce, eyes. VIIIKeep, keeper. IXLovely, lively. XPast, fast. XIPeace, peas. XIISleep, slip. XIIISweet, sweat.
See more Pronunciation Pairs.
Read this short passage out aloud, clearly and without haste.
A THING of beauty is a joy for ever
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
From Endymion (1818) by John Keats (1795-1821).
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