Language+list

One of the ways that Geraldine Brooks so masterfully creates a profound sense of place and time is her wonderful use of language. Phrases such as “Let’s swim her,” instantly locate us in an era when a swimming test was used to determine whether or not a woman was a witch. You may find some of the vocabulary from //Year of Wonders// unusual or challenging. Working individually or as a group find challenging words in the text and write out the meaning and effect of each word or phrase, in your own words. In pairs, think and write down ten phrases and words that indicate that you are writing about 2012.
 * ** Word or phrase  ** || **  Meaning and effect  ** ||
 * Leaf-Fall || ||
 * Apple-picking time || ||
 * Hay stooks || ||
 * Sennight ||  A Middle English word for seven days and seven nights. Locates us in the past, not the present.  ||
 * The timothy || ||
 * handfasted || ||
 * Lead seam || ||
 * slattern || ||
 * Oxford surgeon || ||
 * Papist || ||
 * Ring of roses || ||
 * Herb knowledge || ||
 * Devilment || ||
 * confinement || ||
 * doxy || ||
 * periwig || ||
 * Adit || ||
 * Let’s swim her ||  A test to determine if a woman was a witch.  ||
 * Holy herb of Saint John ||  In the Middle Ages, special flowers and plants were often associated to particular saints, especially if the plants had medicinal properties. St. John’s Wort was believed to be associated with the beheading of St John. It has been used for over 2,000 years, primarily to heal wounds.  ||
 * One withered pap || ||