Theseus retold by Edith Hamilton Feature Menu Introducing

Theseus retold by Edith Hamilton Feature Menu Introducing the Myth Literary Skills Focus: Myths and Heroes Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context Tech. Focus Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

Theseus Introducing the Myth What kinds of journeys can a hero take?

Theseus retold by Edith Hamilton Click on the title to start the video.

Theseus Introducing the Myth Long ago in ancient Greece, the young man Theseus sets out to meet his father, King Aegeus, for the first time. To prove his courage and worthiness, Theseus takes the dangerous land route to Athens.

Theseus Introducing the Myth In Athens, King Aegeus assigns his son Theseus a terrible task. Theseus must travel to the Labyrinth in Crete and defeat the Minotaur, a halfhuman monster who devours people. Will Theseus succeed? [End of Section]

Theseus Literary Skills Focus: Myths and Heroes In ancient Greece, as in other places in the world, myths were more than entertaining stories. Recounted over time, these traditional stories about gods and heroes were • part of the Greek religion • embodied the values of the people

Theseus Literary Skills Focus: Myths and Heroes The heroes in Greek myths • are recognizably human but often have supernatural powers • are sent on quests to find something of great value • find self-knowledge or self-control along the way • embody qualities that the ancient Greeks valued and taught to their children

Theseus Literary Skills Focus: Myths and Heroes Into Action: Use a graphic organizer to note details that reflect some elements typical of Greek myths. Elements of Myths “Theseus” Hero Theseus Hero’s flaws Theseus is overly ambitious. Hero’s quest Gods and goddesses involved in human affairs [End of Section]

Theseus Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context Early Greece was a land of small, independent citystates. • The city of Athens, for example, had its own king. • Neighboring city-states included Salamis, Eleusis, and Sparta.

Theseus Reading Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context As you read, keep the information in the Build Background section in mind. Think about how the realities of the times shaped the stories being told. [End of Section]

Theseus Tech. Focus As you read the selection, ask yourself which scenes or parts of the story would best lend themselves to a short film. [End of Section]

Theseus Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer Find It in Your Reading Hamilton writes with complex sentences and formal diction, or word choice, in retelling this myth. Formal: Give me your attention. Informal: Listen up. Formal: He grew listless. Informal: He got tired. As you read, copy examples of sentences with formal diction into your notebook. [End of Section]

Vocabulary

Theseus Vocabulary acknowledged adj. : admitted; recognized to be true. endear v. : inspire affection. afflicted adj. : upset; saddened. prosperous adj. : wealthy. consent v. : agree.

Theseus Vocabulary The word acknowledged can be used as an adjective to mean “recognized as true. ” Does it take a crown or a medal to be the acknowledged leader in a particular field? Why or why not?

Theseus Vocabulary How might someone recognize that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln were acknowledged leaders in their time?

Theseus Vocabulary Helpful individuals are likely to endear themselves to people who benefit from their assistance.

Theseus Vocabulary The neighborhood association wanted to name a Humanitarian of the Year. Which action would most likely endear one resident to the whole neighborhood? a. Keep six barking dogs in a small yard. b. Pick up litter on neighborhood walkways. c. Post complaint signs on people’s doors.

Theseus Vocabulary Someone who is afflicted is likely to be. . . disturbed upset frustrated distressed saddened hurt

Theseus Vocabulary What would be likely to leave the adults in a community most afflicted? a. Finding a large number of rodents in town. b. Being forced to pay a ratcatcher’s bill. c. Discovering that their children had vanished.

Theseus Vocabulary The word prosperous suggests a comfortable lifestyle with plenty of time for leisure. A person doesn’t need to live in a palace to be considered prosperous.

Theseus Vocabulary When you think of the word prosperous, what other words come to mind? Examples: Word: prosperous Definition: adj. : wealthy. rich wealthy successful well-off comfortable Sentence: Most people in a prosperous country have comfortable homes. Image: