At night, Penelope speaks to the beggar. And the old nurse Eurycleia washes his feet.
The Odyssey · C1+
Book Nineteen: The Scar
Under no circumstances, so as to, the very, small wonder, to some extent, would sooner, all the more, in the event of, notwithstanding and if anything: C1+ grammar for Penelope’s questions and the old nurse who knows the scar.
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SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
The scar!
The story
After Homer’s Odyssey
Penelope questioned the beggar for hours, so as to learn anything about her husband. He told her Odysseus was near. Small wonder that she wept: she had waited twenty years. If anything, she seemed more doubtful than ever.
Eurycleia washed his feet, and her hand touched the very scar he had got from a boar as a boy. She knew it at once. “Under no circumstances,” he whispered, “must you tell anyone.” She would sooner die than betray him.
Penelope told him of her dream and her plan: in the event of anyone stringing Odysseus’s bow, she would marry him. Notwithstanding her fears, she had to decide. The beggar’s words made her all the more determined. To some extent, she trusted him.
Under no circumstances; so as to; the very
PHILO
Under no circumstances must you tell. She asked so as to learn. The very scar.
SOPHIA
Negative phrase + inversion: under no circumstances must you. so as to = in order to. the very = exactly that one.
Small wonder; if anything; to some extent
DEMETRIA
Small wonder she wept. If anything, she was more doubtful. To some extent, she trusted him.
SOPHIA
small wonder that = it isn’t surprising. if anything = rather the opposite. to some extent = partly.
Would sooner; in the event of; notwithstanding; all the more
MARCOS
She’d sooner die than betray him. In the event of anyone stringing the bow… Notwithstanding her fears… all the more determined.
SOPHIA
would sooner + verb + than. in the event of + noun / -ing. notwithstanding = despite. all the more + adjective.
Sophia’s summary
| Form | Use | From the story |
|---|---|---|
| Under no circumstances + inversion | strong prohibition | Under no circumstances must you tell. |
| so as to; the very | purpose; exactly | so as to learn; the very scar |
| small wonder; if anything; to some extent | no surprise; rather; partly | Small wonder she wept. |
| would sooner… than; in the event of; notwithstanding; all the more | preference; condition; despite; even more | She would sooner die than betray him. |
Practice
Answer all the questions, then press “Check my answers”. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Choose
Choose the correct form.
1. Under no circumstances ___ tell anyone.
2. She questioned him ___ learn about Odysseus.
3. Her hand touched ___ scar.
4. ___ wonder she wept.
5. She’d ___ die than betray him.
6. ___ the event of anyone stringing the bow…
B · Write
Write the missing word or words.
7. , she seemed more doubtful. (rather the opposite)
8. To some , she trusted him. (partly)
9. her fears, she decided. (despite, formal)
10. It made her all the determined.
C · Right or wrong?
Is it correct?
11. “Under no circumstances you must tell.”
12. “She would sooner die than betray him.”
13. “Small wonder that she cried.”
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