First Battle.pdf

Effortless English

howl: n. yell, scream

thudded: v. hit, pounded

in unison: adv. at the same time,

together, in harmony

braced: v. held

giddy: adj. nervous

tendrils: n. lines, tentacles

wiry: adj. thin with muscles

clad in: v. wearing

scale: n. scale armor

strode: v. walked (confidently)

cackling: v./adj. laughing (loudly)

goose bumps: n. bumps on skin

(caused by fear or excitement)

butt: n. bottom

rattan: n. a plant similar to bam-

boo

advanced: v. moved forward

adrenaline: n. a hormone, a body

chemical (released by fear or

excitement)

awe: n. amazement

anachronism: n. something out

of place in time/history (doesn’t

belong to that time period)

oddballs: n. strange people

medieval: adj. middle ages period

strap on: v. put on, wear

outlandish: adj. dramatic, fun &

creative

hyper-intelligent: adj. very smart

geeks: idiom. smart uncool people

hammish: adj. too dramatic

buffs: n. people who like some-

thing, fans

misfits: n. people who don’t fit in

with normal society

to succumb: v. to be beaten by, to

surrender to

drudgery: n. boring work

affair: n. experience, event

revolves around: v. focuses on

centerpiece: n. most important

part

implies: v. says indirectly, sug-

gests

First Battle

Publish Date: April 25, 2007

by AJ Hoge

A howl from the opposing army..... swords thudded against shields... thunder

beat in unison. Hearts pounded. I gripped my sword... and braced the shield

against my shoulder. Giddy tendrils raced through my gut and chest....... a wild

grin broke upon my face. I began to bounce.... knees spring-like.....standing on

toes. A racehorse in the gate.

A wild shout went up to my left..... I turned to see a wiry warrior clad in

sparkling scale and a green cape..... carrying a coffin shaped shield. He strode

the front of our lines, turned to our enemies and threw insults against them,

“Cowardly vermin of Trimaris, prepare to die”... he shook his sword and our

army let out a cackling howl. Goose bumps spread across arms and belly..... I

thudded the butt of my (rattan) sword on the inside of the shield.... our lines

advanced.

The enemy continued drumming their shields, and likewise strode forward. Full

of adrenaline, eyes wide with awe, muscles tense as steel....... I approached my

first battle... almost forgetting that none of this was “real”. No one would die.

No one would kill.

This was my introduction to the SCA, or the “Society for Creative

Anachronism”. The SCA is a collection of oddballs who dress in medieval

clothing, strap on armor, and beat each other with wooden swords. They also

dance, sing, and create works of art. The group is a collection of outlandish

creatives, hyper-intelligent geeks, talented artists, hammish performers, history

buffs, academics, poets, social misfits, and folks who simply refuse to succumb

to the drudgery of being “normal”. I was a member for nearly ten years.... and

loved every minute.

The heart of the SCA is the weekend “event”..... an affair that revolves around

a number of semi-historic activities, usually held at a state park. Typically, a

battle or tournament is the centerpiece of the “event”. My first battle was

small by today’s standards..... each army had only 100 people. The group now

hosts battles which involve thousands of participants... the largest is held annu-

ally in Pennsylvania, in August, and is known as the “Pennsics War”. As the

Pennsics example implies, SCA groups and events are spread throughout the

United States. In fact, the group is growing internationally, especially in

Europe. There are also groups in Japan and Korea.

www.effortlessenglish.com

patchwork: n. a loose collec-

tion

The SCA divides the US, and the world, into a patchwork of regional organiza-

tions, called “kingdoms”. Georgia, for example, is part of the “Kingdom of

Meridies”, which also includes Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi. North and

South Carolina are the “Kingdom of Atlantia”. California is in the “West

Kingdom”. Each Kingdom is further divided into local groups, called Baronies

or Shires.

guild: n. a trade group, a union

full-fledged: n. complete, total

counter-society: n. alternative

society, alternative culture

monarchy: n. a government

ruled by a king or queen

clans: n. large extended fami-

lies, tribes

persona: n. personality, charac-

ter

The function of local groups is to host events, welcome newcomers, and teach

medieval skills. Skills include arts such as calligraphy, jewelry making, wood-

working, and costuming; craft arts such as armoring & blacksmithing; perform-

ing arts such as medieval dancing and singing; and martial arts such as hand-to-

hand fighting and archery. Most groups host a weekly business meeting and

various “guild meetings” to practice these arts.

Since I joined, the organization has expanded tremendously and is now a full-

fledged counter society: with its own government (a monarchy- with rulers

chosen by combat), its own economy (some members make a full-time living

selling their arts), and its own social system (a system of titles, clans, knights,

and nobles). Every member of the SCA develops an alternate persona: a

medieval character they become during events.

stunning: adj. amazing

nerves: n. nervous feeling

intensity: n. power

manic: adj. super-energetic

meticulous: adj. very careful

accomplished: adj. successful

embracement: n. acceptance

eccentricity: n. weirdness

(harmless strangeness)

camaraderie: n. friendship,

feelings of friendship

jubuliant: adj. very happy

defiance: n. rebellion, disobedi-

ence

tedium: n. boredom

The combined effects are stunning. At times, I felt I’d been transported back in

time. My first SCA battle produced all the nerves, all the excitement, all the

intensity of entering a “real” battle: pounding heart and manic energy and fear

of being “killed”.

For some, the SCA is an exercise in living history. Many members are meticu-

lous researchers- accomplished experts in a chosen discipline of history. Others

join the group for its unique social characteristics-- its embracement of eccen-

tricity.... its community and camaraderie. But for me, the SCA was an act of

jubuliant defiance: an enthusiastic refusal to surrender to tedium.

I did not, and do not, want to abandon the creative flow of childhood. I am

convinced that play.... fantasy and creativity for its own sake... is a deep and

profound human need; one we, as adults, must nurture and maintain. Play is

not an escape.... it is a celebration. Play is the essence of creativity.

abandon: v. leave, neglect

for its own sake: idiom. for

enjoyment only

profound: adj. very important,

very meaningful

nurture: v. take care of, help

grow

essence: n. central part, most

important part

We, as adults-- for the sake of our happiness and our souls, should re-discover it.

Learn More:

SCA

http://www.sca.org

www.effortlessenglish.com

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: