Classics Retold

A Sunday afternoon.  It was the thirteenth of February. The  VALENTINE  Day. Bathsheba's farm- house. After dinner, Bathsheba wanted Liddy to join her to keep company. The mouldy pile was dreary in winter time before the candle were lighted and the shutters closed. The atmosphere seemed as old as the walls; every nook behind the furniture had a temperature of its own; for the fire was not kindled in this part of the house, Bathsheba's piano stood out of level on the warped floor; Liddy, like a little shallow brook was always rippling. On the table lay a little quarto Bible, bound in leather. Looking at it Liddy said, "Did you ever find out, miss, who you are going to marry?"  "By means of Bible and key?" asked Bathsheba. "Don't be foolish, Liddy."  "Well, there's good deal in it."  "Nonsense, child."  "It makes your heart beat fearfully, some believe in it, and some don't. I do."  "Very well, let us tr...

Bethlehem. An Israelite family of Elimelech and Naomi and their sons Mahlon and Kilyon were struggling to survive through a famine. In search of food they move into the land of Moab, Israel's ancient enemy.  In Moab, the father Elimelech dies. The sons marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Soon the sons also die, leaving Naomi and her daughters-in-law, in the wild.  With no hope Naomi tells them that she is moving back home. She was aware of hard life of unmarried foreign widows in Israel, and compels the daughters-in-law to remain in Moab. Orpah agreed, but Ruth said, "Where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."  Naomi changes her name to Mara and they leave for Israel. In Israel Naomi and Ruth search for food. It was the beginning of the harvest of barley. Ruth goes out and ends up picking up grains in the fields of Naomi's relative Boaz. He was a man of noble character. He notices Ruth picking up grains from his field. He wa...

The story of Valentine's day is a blend of Roman pagan festivals with Christian martyrdom honouring saint named Valentine, especially one who secretly married soldiers against Emperor Claudias 2nd's decree and signed a letter "from your Valentine" before his execution on February 14th, later linked to romance by Chaucer and associated with love through traditions of sending cards and flowers.  Origin & History of Valentine's Day  There were several Christian martyrs named Valantinus, but the popular legend comes from 3rd century Rome. Emperor Claudias restricted the marriage of young soldiers, as he believed that single men fought better. A priest named Valentine defied the order and secretly solemnized the marriages of young soldiers. He was imprisoned and executed on 14th February of 269 CE. While in prison, Valentine befriended and healed the jailors blind daughter, and signed a note, "From your Valentine" The phrase struck the popular imagination...

The corn market of Casterbridge. The extensive hall of Corn Exchange was supported by Tuscan pillars. [1] The hall was thronged with farmers and merchants, all of them men. They talked among each other in twos and threes. Most of them had in their hands a young ash tree pulled directly from the earth as their walking stick, with which they poked pigs, sheep, neighbours with their backs turned, and restful things in general in the course of their roamings. During conversations each put his sapling to different usage -- bending it round his back, forming an arch of it between his two hands, pushing the end of it on the ground till it reached a semi-circle, or tucked it under his arm causing the sample bag to open and handful of corn poured into his palm, and flung upon the floor for market fowls to peck it. Among these male farmers, and merchants came a lone female member. She was well-dressed, and  attracted the attention of the whole corn exchange. Like a chaise between carts she m...

Outskirts of the city of Melchester. A snowy evening. Darkness and gloom. A public path, on its left hand was a river, and behind it a high wall. On the right was a tract of land partly meadow and partly moor. And the moor reaches to a heathen with ups and downs. In winter, the place is marked by snakes, ferns, pools and puddles and the rising of fogs, and  the wood eaten by fungi, all hidden by by snow. The cloud above was low, as if it were the roof of a large dark cavern gradually sinking in upon its floor. The earth, and everything on it and snow and sky appeared a single mass. The wall was darker than the sky; the river was darker than the wall. The facade of this convergence was occasionally notched and pronged by chimneys here and there. The neighbouring clock struck ten. The bell had lost its voice because of the muffling snow. Not long after, when the snow abated, a form moved by the brink of the river. It moved slowly, but without much exertion. It seemed to count "one, ...

Might is the past tense of May. But it doesn't stop there. Some situations require the use of might irrespective of tense.  May suggest a higher probability or is used for formal permission. Might indicates a lower, weaker or hypothetical situation.  Example  It may rain. -- A likely event. The team may win the championship this year; they have been playing exceptionally well. It might rain if the wind shifts. -- less likely or hypothetical  I must go to the party; but I am feeling tired. Here I might go to the party is more suitable. May is also used for permission. May I go? May I borrow your pen? You may now leave the classroom. For past possibilities   Might is used for past situation. He might have left. If I had studied harder, I might have passed the test. She might have been at the library when you called. Polite request   or suggestion  Might I suggest we try a different route?