EV 939: An Impassable Door by Shark

[kayakamina]

Phew!

I found this one a brute after a run of fairly easy EVs.

Had to stretch the mind back half a century to my classics days and I hope it came easier for other EVers.

[AndrewG-S]

contendo, I am at the same point as you - not sure what langauge I am looking for, any steer on whether we are in English or something else would help. My school subjects do not help with these!

[slaney]

Andrew G -S, Shakespeare is said to have little Latin and even less of this language.

[AndrewG-S]

that is what I feared may be the answer!!

[contendo]

Time to abandon this one I think.

[DocHH]

AndrewG-S
Assuming you have the string of corrected letters, you could re-read this string, there are some hints, and the rubric does tell you that the BRB is the ONLY reference.

[AndrewG-S]

Yes I have the string of letters, the quote, the author, the translation from Chambers - just missing that last elusive bit of highlighting

[kayakamina]

Hi contendo

The first word of the translated quote will tell the shape to be highlighted, and the last word the items to be highlighted.
As Zita said previously some letters are used twice, and some words are abbreviations.

[AndrewG-S]

Thanks I am pretty much there now

[Ruthrobin]

Nice one this - a bit of a challenge after a relatively easy Listener. I too, took a while with the final stage.

[copelander]

Novalis, I'm with you, a great puzzle. Thank goodness EVs are becoming more interesting!

[ulysses100]

I thought that I was finally there. I have the quote, the author and several names to make the shape required, but, if they are to be in the letters of the title I can only highlight 24 squares. I cannot incorporate a B. (to make 25 I would have to highlight an F). Any hints gratefully received !

[zita-green]

Ullyses, the 'B' is found in 17a

[ulysses100]

Hi zita-green. Yes, I have the B in 17a but its an extra column away from the other names and therefore not continuous. (?!)

[slaney]

Hi ulysses - You have to join the B in 17a to the column with another letter to make the required shape - this will give you another abbreviated name (reading down).

[novalis]

HI Ulysses!
To add to Slaney's comment, you finish up with an abbreviated name and the first letter does double duty.

[Graudian]

Oh Dear I'm still confused.

A total of 25 cells must be highlighted. The author accounts for 9 leaving 16 for the
'an impassable door' letters.
5 along the bottom, 9 down the centre & 2 at 17a.
Are not the two letters to the right of 13d to be included as it makes a better 'shape'?

[zita-green]

graudian, think diagonally

[ulysses100]

Thanks. I had Ed at the top of the line and could not connect the B to that line. However the diagonal E now connects the B to it, but what sort of name is Bed ?

[zita-green]

It's DEB(orah). These abbreviations made it more difficult for me.

[ulysses100]

Thank you so much zita-green. It's so obvious when pointed out !! It's enough to drive you to drink ! I think that it's time for a G&T.