This is the fifth sample article candidates of the ECPE examination (Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English of the University of Michigan) My first post to deal with articles , explains what needs to be present in this type of piece of writing. As stated, examiners are looking for articles that elaborate on ideas and have solid arguments; are well organized; make use of a wide lexical and grammatical range; have an original ring to them (in other words, readers are able to distinguish the author's unique "voice"). Before reading, take a look at the following post if you haven't already done so. It will help you focus on the vital aspects you need to be aware of while reading the article and what you should make sure to use when you write your own. The question appeared in Practice Tests for the ECPE Book 1 (revised 2021 version) and is accompanied by the following three writing prompts:
Ever wondered what the word 'halcyon' meant? Read on and discover the ancient myth that gave birth to this word.
The adjective halcyon
Synonyms:
a) calm, peaceful, tranquil
b) prosperous, wealthy, rich
c) joyful, carefree
The noun halcyon
A genus of the kingfisher birds.
The mythology behind the name and meaning
The word is derived from Middle English "alceon", dating back to the Latin "halcyon", which in turn stems from the Greek "alkyon".
In Greek mythology, Alcyone (Ἁλκυόνη) was the daughter of Aeolus (god of the winds) and was married to Ceyx (Κήϋξ).
Zeus's wrath fell upon them when the king of the gods of Olympus discovered that the happy couple would often refer to each other as 'Zeus' and 'Hera'. They were punished for this blasphemous comparison by Zeus himself who destroyed Ceyx's ship in a hurricane provoked by a thunderbolt as Ceyx was on his way to consult the oracle of Apollo in the aftermath of his brother's death. Alcyone had warned him not to go since her own father was often unable to control the winds, and, unable to convince him, pleaded with him to let her come along, which he naturally refused.
Antonio Tempesta's Morpheus as Ceyx, Appearing to Alcyone |
William Woollett's 1769 engraving Ceyx and Alcyone |
In an act of mercy or by way of atonement at the couple's tragic fate, the gods on Olympus transformed both husband and wife into halcyon birds and named them after her. Around the winter solstice, the birds lay their eggs on a floating nest on the sea according to one legend, or on the beach according to another. During this time, the weather is mild and the sea winds are calm (Alcyone's father, Aeolus, sees to this) so the nest is protected from storms and raging waves.
The phrase "halcyon days" thus refers to a calm time interval in the face of adversity, a period of joy and prosperity. To this day, Greek meteorologists make mention of halcyon days in weather forecasts with reference to temperate, sunny days usually in January, but more broadly between mid-December to mid-February.
Thomas Banks' marble bas-relief, Alcyone and Ceyx (1774) |