In the minds of ESL exam candidates, e ssay writing is one of the most daunting tasks they are required to complete, regardless of the level of the exam, the administering body or the ease with which they themselves use the language. The same applies to students who are asked to write an essay by their teachers at school. In the previous sample essays posted on the blog, the main point I stress is the need to become acquainted with this form of writing (as opposed to writing a letter, review or report, for instance), to get a feel of what authorial voice is and how to organize and progressively express the arguments you wish to make in a coherent manner. Unfortunately, the best way to prepare for exam writing or learn how to write good essays for school is to read as many essays from as many sources as possible, then write as
The adjective halcyon
Synonyms:
a) calm, peaceful, tranquil
b) prosperous, wealthy, rich
c) joyful, carefree
The noun halcyon
A genus of the kingfisher birds.
The mythology behind the name and meaning
The word is derived from Middle English "alceon", dating back to the Latin "halcyon", which in turn stems from the Greek "alkyon".
In Greek mythology, Alcyone (Ἁλκυόνη) was the daughter of Aeolus (god of the winds) and was married to Ceyx (Κήϋξ).
Zeus's wrath fell upon them when the king of the gods of Olympus discovered that the happy couple would often refer to each other as 'Zeus' and 'Hera'. They were punished for this blasphemous comparison by Zeus himself who destroyed Ceyx's ship in a hurricane provoked by a thunderbolt as Ceyx was on his way to consult the oracle of Apollo in the aftermath of his brother's death. Alcyone had warned him not to go since her own father was often unable to control the winds, and, unable to convince him, pleaded with him to let her come along, which he naturally refused.
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| Antonio Tempesta's Morpheus as Ceyx, Appearing to Alcyone |
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| William Woollett's 1769 engraving Ceyx and Alcyone |
In an act of mercy or by way of atonement at the couple's tragic fate, the gods on Olympus transformed both husband and wife into halcyon birds and named them after her. Around the winter solstice, the birds lay their eggs on a floating nest on the sea according to one legend, or on the beach according to another. During this time, the weather is mild and the sea winds are calm (Alcyone's father, Aeolus, sees to this) so the nest is protected from storms and raging waves.
The phrase "halcyon days" thus refers to a calm time interval in the face of adversity, a period of joy and prosperity. To this day, Greek meteorologists make mention of halcyon days in weather forecasts with reference to temperate, sunny days usually in January, but more broadly between mid-December to mid-February.
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| Thomas Banks' marble bas-relief, Alcyone and Ceyx (1774) |