IEW composition on the Greeks

Jake’s mother writes, “I thought it might be nice to have some IEW writing exercises on the Gallery. We finished WS 3, but didn’t find it very appealing. We switched to IEW and we are all enjoying it. I’m considering adding in WS at a higher level later (or maybe Wordsmith). Below is a “summary” of a chapter in The Story of the Greeks written by my 11 year old son, Jake. Although a very verbal boy, he balks at writing. IEW has given him the guidelines necessary to write a little easier.”

Ancient Greeks

By Jacob D. Bower

A long time ago an Egyptian prince named Inachus landed in Greece. While there, in that beautiful climate, he instructed the Pelasgians, who ate their food raw, how to make fire and to cook their meat. He also taught them how to build walls by stacking stones one on another.

Because the Pelasgians were intelligent, although uncivilized, they soon learned how to build the walls higher. Discovering the service of bronze and iron, they became great stone cutters.

The blocks were piled so cleverly and so high that their descendants thought the walls must have been built by giants. After Inachus had founded the city of Argos, a tremendous earthquake occurred. The city was flooded and everyone dashed to the hills. The rushing floodwaters overtook many and they were drowned while their companions fled in terror to the hills where they would be safe.

The Pelasgians homes were covered with water. When the water had soaked into the ground and receded into the sea, they found that some of their strongest walls were still intact. Pelasgians remembered this terrible tragedy and often talked about it. The flood occurred during the reign of King Ogyges and because of this, it is often referred to as the Deluge of Ogyges.

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