The Well of St. Keyne
Robert Southey
1774 to 1843
How to Play Cloze Games
A cloze game is a reading comprehension activity where certain words are removed from a text and you need to fill in the blanks with the correct words. This helps improve vocabulary, reading comprehension, and understanding of context.
Type In Mode
In this mode, you can:
- Type your answers directly into the blank spaces
- Get instant feedback as you type - correct answers show green, incorrect show red
- Use the keyboard for faster input and navigation
- Submit answers to check your overall progress
Drag & Drop Mode
Switch to Drag & Drop mode to:
- Drag words from the word bank and drop them into blank spaces
- Click on words in the bank to automatically fill blanks
- Click on blanks to select or clear them
Game Features
- Word Skip Selector: Choose how frequently words are removed (every 4th, 5th, 6th word, etc.)
- Progress Bar: Shows your completion percentage
- Color Feedback: Green for correct answers, red for incorrect ones
- Audio Player: Listen to the musical arrangement while you play
- Show Missing Words: View all the correct answers if you need help
- Reset Game: Start over with the same poem
- New Game: Get a different random poem
- Print Poem: Print the poem with blanks for offline practice
Winning
When you fill all the blanks correctly, you'll see a congratulations message and confetti animation! The progress bar will show 100% completion.
Tips
- Read the entire poem first to understand the context
- Look for grammatical clues (verb tense, articles, etc.)
- Use the audio player to hear the rhythm and flow
- Start with easier word skip settings (like every 8th word) and work your way up
- Don't be afraid to use "Show Missing Words" if you get stuck!
- Try both Type In and Drag & Drop modes to see which you prefer
Missing Words
A Well there is in the west country,
a clearer one never was seen;
There is not wife in the west country
But has heard the Well of St. Keyne.
An oak and an elm-tree stand beside,
And behind doth an ash-tree grow,
a willow from the bank above
Droops to water below.
A traveller came to the Well of St. Keyne;
Joyfully he drew nigh,
For from the cock-crow he had been travelling,
And there was not cloud in the sky.
He drank of the water cool and clear,
For thirsty and hot was he,
And he sat down upon the bank
Under willow-tree.
There came a man from the house hard
At the Well to fill his pail;
On Well-side he rested it,
And he bade the hail.
"Now art thou a bachelor, Stranger?" quoth he,
"For an if thou hast a wife,
The draught thou hast drank this day
That ever didst in thy life.
"Or has thy good woman, one thou hast,
Ever here in Cornwall been?
an if she have, I'll venture my life
has drank of the Well of St. Keyne."
"I have left a good woman who never was here."
The Stranger he made reply,
"But that my should be the better for that,
I pray answer me why?"
"St. Keyne," quoth the Cornish-man, "many a time
Drank of this crystal Well,
before the Angel summon'd her,
She laid on water a spell.
"If the Husband of this gifted
Shall drink before his Wife,
A happy man is he,
For he shall be Master for life.
"But if the Wife should drink of it first,—
God help the Husband then!"
The Stranger to the Well of St. Keyne,
And drank the water again.
"You drank of the Well I betimes?"
He to the Cornish-man said:
But Cornish-man smiled as the Stranger spake,
And sheepishly his head.
"I hasten'd as soon as the wedding done,
And left my Wife in the porch;
i' faith she had been wiser than me,
she took a bottle to Church."
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