Recently a group was assigned the topic Dionysus (dye oh NIGH sus). I lent the three students some books that have information about the Greek god whose festivals gave rise to drama. Their task was to research and type a speaking outline of an introduction of six sentences, a body of three main points and three subpoints under each main point, and two minor points that will take cardinal numbers 1 and 2 under each subpoint. They also need two transitions, and a conclusion of six sentences. This is an excellent exercise in learning the skill of developing an outline.
If you want to become an expert on some topic, just research it, develop a speaking outline the way an outline is supposed to be done, and then present it.
This week’s Vaughan’s Vocabulary quiz is based on research about Dionysus.
No. 1:
Legend said that he was the son of Semele, a Theban princess and
A. Prometheus.
B. Zeus.
C. Zelus.
D. Zephyrus.
No. 2:
nymphs (nimfs)
A. sinister spirits usually associated with floral designs
B. beautiful maiden characters who populated the stories of Greek heroes
C. poisonous cocktails
D. gargantuan birds that hovered over mourning women
Let’s see how you’re doing. Dionysus was the son of the chief Olympian god, Zeus, and if you chose B for No. 2, you’re correct.
No. 3:
The Theater of Dionysus is associated with all the following except
A. ancient Athens.
B. alfresco.
C. orchestra.
D. skene.
E. Byzantine theatre
No. 4:
Dionysus was also called
A. Bacchus.
B. the Maenad.
C. Trouble.
D. Spirit in the Sky.
No. 5:
There’s Dionysus, but when you add an “i” after the first “s”, it’s Dionysius. All the following are of the latter except
A. Dionysius Exiguus.
B. Saint Dionysius of Alexandria.
C. Dionysius of Halicarnassus.
D. Dionysius the Areopagite.
E. Dionysius Panoply.
No. 3 is E. Dionysus was called Bacchus. Dionysius Panoply is a fake name, but panoply is an ideal vocabulary-building word and its origin is Greek.
You may not have done well on this quiz, but you’ve learned a slice of a delicious, educational cumquat, as it were, that you might not have ever learned had you not read Vaughan’s Vocabulary.
Editor’s Note: Don R. Vaughan, Ph.D. is a public speaking professor at EMCC and Ole Miss. Vaughan is the transitional pastor of Lollars Grove Baptist Church. Contact him at drvaugha@eastms.edu.
