14307 the king who listened

The King who Listened
Vocabulary
SCANDINAVIA – Sweden, Norway, & Denmark
COURT – where a King lives; his retinue
VENGEANCE – punishing s.o. who harmed you
DISCONTENTED – unhappy and restless
MAGNANIMITY – noble spirit; generosity
MUNIFICENCE – great generosity
PASSAGE – a voyage by sea
to PROPOSE – to ask someone to marry you

Iceland is famous for its poets. During the Middle Ages, the Kings of
Scandinavia often had an Icelandic poet at court. He would entertain
the court with old stories of war, vengeance, and heroic actions; and he
would praise the King for his magnanimity and munificence.
Around 1115, when Eystein Magnusson was King of Norway, the
Court Poet was an Icelander called Ivar Ingimundarson, and the King
thought very highly of him. Now one day, there was a visitor to court,
who was none other than Ivar’s brother, Thorfinn. Although Thorfinn
had the benefit of Ivar’s popularity, he soon grew discontented with
court life. He did not like having to depend on his brother’s position, or
being thought of as Ivar’s inferior. So he decided to return to Iceland.
Before the brothers parted, Ivar asked Thorfinn to take a message to
a woman called Oddny. Ivar said that Oddny was to wait for him and not
marry anyone else, for he loved her more than any other woman.
Thorfinn put out to sea, and had a good passage. However, instead of
delivering his brother’s message, he proposed to Oddny himself, and
they soon became man and wife. Some time later, Ivar arrived in Iceland
and heard what had happened. He was deeply hurt and went back to
Norway, where he was warmly received by King Eystein.
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The King who Listened
Vocabulary
– severe bodily or mental pain
to SUMMON – to order someone to come to you
DESPONDENT – dejected and not hopeful
DEJECTED – unhappy, in low spirits, depressed
to WRONG – to treat [someone] unjustly
to SLIGHT – to treat [s.o.] without respect
to DISCLOSE – to make known, to reveal
to COVET – to eagerly desire [what is s.o. else’s]
ESTATE – a large area of land with one owner
ANGUISH

As time went by, Ivar’s anguish grew worse. The King noticed this
and summoned Ivar to his presence, to ask him why he was so
despondent.
“When you stayed with us in the past,” the King began, “you used to
entertain us greatly with your conversation. Now, however, you have
little to say, and you always look dejected. What is the matter with
you? We know that we have not wronged or slighted you; and you are
too intelligent a man to imagine a wrong or a slight where there is none.”
“What troubles me, my lord, is something I may not disclose,”
replied Ivar.
“Then we’ll guess it,” said the King. “Is there someone here at court
whose presence offends you?”
“No, my lord, it’s not that,” said Ivar.
“Is there anything you’ve seen in this country that you covet?”
“No, my lord, there isn’t,” answered Ivar.

“Are there any estates you wish for?” asked the King.
Ivar said no.

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The King who Listened
Vocabulary
TO PINE [FOR]

– have a desire for s.o. who is not present
GUARDIAN– s.o. who is legally responsible for a child etc
THREAT – an expression of an intention to harm s.o.
ACUTE – [here] serious
GRIEF – deep mental anguish
to REDOUBLE – to become twice as great
AUTHORITY – the power to make people obey you

“This guessing game is becoming difficult,” observed the King. “Is
there a woman in your own country who you’re pining for?”
“Yes,” said Ivar.
“Then put your sorrow aside.

When spring comes, you’ll go to

Iceland, and we’ll give you money and letters to her guardians. There
is no one who would ignore our friendly words or royal threats.”
“It’s impossible, my lord,” said Ivar.
“No, it’s not impossible. Even if she’s already married, we’ll obtain
her for you, if that is what you desire.”

“It’s not so easy a problem to solve as that, my lord,” remarked Ivar.
“The woman’s already married to my brother.”
“In that case, we must think of something else. I know what we’ll do.
After Christmas, we shall be making our royal tour. You shall come with
us. You’ll meet many beautiful women, and we’ll obtain any one of them
for you, as long as they’re not of royal blood.”
“My lord, my difficulty is more acute than that. Whenever I see a
beautiful woman, I’m reminded of the one I love, and my grief is
redoubled.”
The king said, “Then we shall give you lands and authority, and you
can devote yourself to your estates.”
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The King who Listened
Vocabulary
– worth
PREVIOUS – earlier in time
[to be] ENGAGED IN – to be busy with
to SOOTHE – to ease, to relieve [pain]
CONSIDERATION – thoughtfulness for
other people
to CURE – to remove [sth. harmful]
VALUE

“I have no heart for that,” observed Ivar.
“Then we shall give you money,” suggested the King, “and you can
travel wherever you wish.”
Ivar said he didn’t want that either.
“This problem does not grow any easier. We’ve tried everything we

know. There is only one suggestion left, and it is of very little value
compared with our previous offers.
“Come to me every day before the tables are cleared, when I’m not
engaged in matters of state, and I shall talk with you. We’ll talk about
this woman to your heart’s content, for as long as you wish. Sometimes a
man’s grief is soothed by talking about his sorrows. And I also promise
you that you’ll never leave my presence without some gift.”
“Yes, my lord, that is what I’d like to do,” said Ivar. “And thank you
for your consideration.”
And now, whenever the King was not busy with affairs of state, he
would talk with Ivar about Oddny. The plan succeeded, and Ivar’s grief
was cured sooner than he had expected; his happiness came back, and
all his old cheerfulness returned to him.
And he remained with King Eystein.

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The King who Listened
1. What kind of person was…
a) Thorfinn? ______________________________________
b) Ivar? _________________________________________
c) Eystein? ________________________________________

2. What do you think of the King’s gift?
________________________________________________
________________________________________________

3. Fill in the gap with the correct preposition.
a. Iceland is famous ____ its poets.

b. The poet would entertain the court ____ old stories of war and vengeance.
c. He would also praise the King ____ his magnanimity and munificence.
d. The King thought highly ____ Ivar.
e. Thorfinn grew discontented ____ court life.
f. Thorfinn did not like having to depend ___ Ivar’s position.
g. Thorfinn put ___ ___ sea.
h. “What is the matter ____ you?”

4. Choose the correct word. Then look at the text and check your answers.
a) Ivar asked Thorfinn to (bring/take) a message to Oddny.
b) Ivar loved Oddny more than (any/some) other woman.
c) Ivar arrived in Iceland and heard (that/what) had happened.
d) “You have little to say, and you (always look/ look always) dejected.”
e) “(Although/ Even if) she’s already married, we’ll obtain her for you.”
f) “It’s not so easy as (that/this).”
g) The King will obtain any woman for Ivar, as (far/long) as she is not royal.
h) Ivar said he didn’t want that (either/too).

5. Prepositions (2)
a. “Are there any estates you wish ___?”
b. Ivar was pining ___ Oddny.
c. Whenever Ivar sees a beautiful woman, he is reminded ___ Oddny.
d. If Ivar is given land by the King, he can devote himself ___ his estates.
e. They talk when the King is not engaged ___ matters of state.
f. They talk about Ivar’s love when the King is not busy ____ affairs of state.
g. The King says that a man’s grief is soothed by talking _____ his sorrows.
h. Ivar thanks the King ___ his consideration.
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The King who Listened
6. Replace the words in italics with a phrase from the text.
EXAMPLE:
Thorfinn was popular at court because his brother Ivar was popular. 
Thorfinn had the benefit of Ivar’s popularity. (page 1)
a. Thorfinn did not want to be lower in rank and status than Ivar. 
Thorfinn did not want to be ______ _________. (1)
b. Thorfinn asked Oddny to marry him.  Thorfinn ________ __ Oddny.
c. Thorfinn and Oddny got married. Thorfinn and Oddny__________. (1)
d. Ivar became more and more upset. Ivar’_ ______ ____ ____. (2)
e. If he is given land, Ivar can spend all his time and energy on his estates. 
If he is given land, Ivar can _______ _______ __ his estates. (3)
f. However, Ivar does not want / lacks enthusiasm for land. 
Ivar ____ __ ______ ___ land. (4)
g. “We’ll talk about this woman as much as you want/until you’re satisfied” 
“We’ll talk about this woman __ ____ ______ _______.” (4)

7. Change direct speech into reported speech.
EXAMPLE: “No, my lord, it’s not that,” said Ivar.  Ivar said it wasn’t that.
“Is there anything you’ve seen in this country that you covet?”
“No, my lord, there isn’t,” answered Ivar. 
“Are there any estates you wish for?” asked the King.
“No, my lord, there aren’t”. 
“Then we shall give you money,” suggested the King, “and you can travel
wherever you wish.”
“I don’t want that either.” 
 Ivar said _______________.
 Ivar said _______________.
 Ivar said _______________________.

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The King who Listened
Answer Key
1. What kind of person was…
a) Thorfinn? (e.g. envious, proud, selfish, treacherous, unreliable…)
b) Ivar? (e.g. cheerful, sensitive, eloquent)
c) Eystein? (e.g. unselfish, kind, considerate, wise)

2. What do you think of the King’s gift?
(students should understand that the gift – his time – is the greatest gift
the King can give because it is the one thing he does not possess in
abundance)

3. Fill in the gap with the correct preposition.
a. Iceland is famous for its poets.
b. The poet would entertain the court with old stories of war and vengeance.
c. He would also praise the King for his magnanimity and munificence.
d. The King thought highly of Ivar.
e. Thorfinn grew discontented with court life.
f. Thorfinn did not like having to depend on Ivar’s position.
g. Thorfinn put out to sea.
h. “What is the matter with you?”

4. Choose the correct word. Then look at the text and check your answers.
a) Ivar asked Thorfinn to (bring/take) a message to Oddny.
b) Ivar loved Oddny more than (any/some) other woman.
c) Ivar arrived in Iceland and heard (that/what) had happened.
d) “You have little to say, and you (always look/ look always) dejected.”

e) “(Although/ Even if) she’s already married, we’ll obtain her for you.”
f) “It’s not so easy as (that/this).”
g) The King will obtain any woman for Ivar, as (far/long) as she is not royal.
h) Ivar said he didn’t want that (either/too).

5. Prepositions (2)
a. “Are there any estates you wish for?”
b. Ivar was pining for Oddny.
c. Whenever Ivar sees a beautiful woman, he is reminded of Oddny.
d. If Ivar is given land by the King, he can devote himself to his estates.
e. They talk when the King is not engaged in matters of state.
f. They talk about Ivar’s love when the King is not busy with affairs of state.
g. The King says that a man’s grief is soothed by talking about his sorrows.
h. Ivar thanks the King for his consideration.
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The King who Listened
6. Replace the words in italics with a phrase from the text.
EXAMPLE:
Thorfinn was popular at court because his brother Ivar was popular. 
Thorfinn had the benefit of Ivar’s popularity. (page 1)
a. Thorfinn did not want to be lower in rank and status than Ivar. 
Thorfinn did not want to be Ivar’s inferior. (1)
b. Thorfinn asked Oddny to marry him.  Thorfinn proposed to Oddny.
c. Thorfinn and Oddny got married. Thorfinn and Oddny became man
and wife. (1)
d. Ivar became more and more upset. Ivar’s anguish grew worse. (2)
e. If he is given land, Ivar can spend all his time and energy on his estates. 
If he is given land, Ivar can devote himself to his estates. (3)

f. However, Ivar does not want / lacks enthusiasm for land. 
Ivar has no heart for land. (4)
g. “We’ll talk about this woman as much as you want/until you’re satisfied” 
“We’ll talk about this woman to your heart’s content.” (4)

7. Change direct speech into reported speech.
EXAMPLE: “No, my lord, it’s not that,” said Ivar.  Ivar said it wasn’t that.
“Is there anything you’ve seen in this country that you covet?”
“No, my lord, there isn’t,” answered Ivar. 
“Are there any estates you wish for?” asked the King.
“No, my lord, there aren’t”. 
“Then we shall give you money,” suggested the King, “and you can travel
wherever you wish.”
“I don’t want that either.” 
 Ivar said there wasn’t.
 Ivar said there weren’t.
 Ivar said he didn’t want that either.

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