Icarus and His Flight

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188. ORAL LESSON

ICARUS AND HIS FLIGHT

The ancient Greeks had a number of stories about a man named Dædalus (Dē'-da-lus), who was famed for his cleverness in designing things and for his skill of hand in making them. At one time he lived in the island of Crete, and while there got into trouble for having made the famous labyrinth for a monster, the Minotaur, who demanded of the inhabitants a yearly sacrifice of young men and women. For helping this monster, he and his son Icarus (Ic'-a-rus) were imprisoned by King Minos. In order to escape, he procured wings and fastened them with wax to his shoulders and to those of Icarus. Then they flew forth from their prison, and started across the Ægean Sea towards the mainland of Europe. All went well for a time; but Icarus rose too high, and got too near the sun.

Imagine the rest of the story. When you have made your guess, your teacher can tell you how the old Greeks finished it. It may interest you to look up a map that gives that part of the Mediterranean Sea that is called the Ægean Sea. If your map is large enough, it will contain a name in a part of the Ægean Sea that recalls this story.

189. WRITTEN LESSON

Write the story of Icarus. Let the first paragraph tell of the imprisonment of Icarus; in the second, tell of the making of the wings; in the third, of the flight and its consequences.

190. LANGUAGE LESSON

Criticise the composition of Lesson 189, for (1) capitals, (2) punctuation, (3) spelling, (4) sentences, (5) paragraphs.

191. ORAL LESSON

ENUNCIATION

We Americans are accused of careless and indistinct speech. Have you ever thought whether the accusation is true? Do you always say things distinctly, or do you sometimes slur and mumble, especially in class when you are not sure your answer is right? Think of how you say and how you hear others say certain words. Do you say and do you hear

Try to think of other words and expressions that you hear mispronounced, or slurred over and left indistinct. Wouldn't it be easier to know what our friends say, if they always made their words clear and distinct? And if we should like to hear them do so, would it not be right and fair to take the trouble to do so ourselves? Beautiful speech is pleasing to the ear. When words come clear and distinct, and in a musical voice, we listen with pleasure. If your voice is harsh or squeaky or shrill, try to modify it. As far as you can, make it like the pleasing voices that you hear. A good deal can be done to improve our voices just by listening and trying.

Here is a stanza from Browning's "The Pied Piper of

Hamelin" that requires clear enunciation, and is all the

better for being read also with a good voice:

Once more he stept into the street,

And to his lips again

Laid his long pipe of smooth straight cane;
And ere he blew three notes (such sweet
Soft notes as yet musician's cunning

Never gave the enraptured air).

There was a rustling that seemed like a bustling
Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling;
Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering,
Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering,
And, like fowls in a farm-yard when barley is scattering,
Out came the children running.

All the little boys and girls,

With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,

And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,

Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after

The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.

192. WRITTEN LESSON

Write sentences containing :

1. A proper noun as subject and an adverb in the predicate. 2. A subject modified by several words.

3. A verb-group modified by several words.

4. The pronouns he, him, and his.

5. A pronoun as subject modified by an adjective. 6. The past tense of a verb modified by an adverb. 7. The contraction it's and the pronoun its.

8. The pronouns I, you, and them.

Exchange papers and correct, as in Lesson 186.

193. LANGUAGE LESSON

COMPOUND SUBJECTS

What are the subjects of these three sentences?

1. Mary and I walked to school.

2. The dog, the horse, and the cow are quadrupeds.

3. You and I have had a fine time.

The subject of a sentence is often not one noun, but several nouns or pronouns, often connected by and.

Supply the correct words in the following sentences:

1. George and (I, me) are ready.

2. My brother and (I, me) went fishing.

3. Either George or May (is, are) going for the mail.

4. (He, him) and his father have packed the basket for the

picnic.

5. (He, him) and (she, her) will take the wagon.

6. Where shall my sister and (I, me) meet you?

7. The sandwiches and roasted apples were (laid, lain) out before the fire.

8. Now father and (I, me) must bring the water.

9. (They, them) and (I, me) went in to dinner.

10. Charles and he (is, are) coming to-morrow.

11. Neither the dog nor the cat (was, were) in the house.

12. (Was, were) George and you at the party?

The following are examples of correct usage. Repeat them aloud until you are sure you know them.

It is I.
It is he.

Is it he?

It isn't she.

It was I.
Was it she?

Were you?

Aren't you?

It is not she.

Don't they?
Doesn't he?

It doesn't.