Introducing the Myth Literary Skills Focus: Myths and Heroes

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

2. TheseusIntroducing the Myth What kinds of journeys can a hero take?

3. Theseusretold by Edith Hamilton Click on the title to start the video.

4. TheseusIntroducing 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.

5. TheseusIntroducing the Myth In Athens, King Aegeus assigns his son Theseus a terrible task. Theseus must travel to the Labyrinthin Creteand defeat the Minotaur, a half-human monster who devours people. Will Theseus succeed? [End of Section]

6. TheseusLiterary Skills Focus: Myths and Heroes In ancient Greece, as in other places in the world, mythswere 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

7. TheseusLiterary 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

8. TheseusLiterary 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]

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

10. TheseusReading 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]

11. Theseus TechFocus 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]

12. 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]

13. Vocabulary

14. TheseusVocabulary acknowledgedadj.: admitted; recognized to be true. endearv.: inspire affection. afflictedadj.: upset; saddened. prosperousadj.: wealthy. consentv.: agree.

15. TheseusVocabulary 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 acknowledgedleader in a particular field? Why or why not?

16. TheseusVocabulary How might someone recognize that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln were acknowledgedleaders in their time?

17. TheseusVocabulary Helpful individuals are likely to endear themselves to people who benefit from their assistance.

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

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

20. TheseusVocabulary Someone who isafflictedis likely to be . . . disturbed upset frustrated distressed saddened hurt

21. TheseusVocabulary What would be likely to leave the adults in a community most afflicted? • Finding a large number of rodents in town. • Being forced to pay a rat-catcher’s bill. • Discovering that their children had vanished.

22. TheseusVocabulary What would be likely to leave the adults in a community most afflicted? • Finding a large number of rodents in town. • Being forced to pay a rat-catcher’s bill. • Discovering that their children had vanished.

23. TheseusVocabulary Thewordprosperous suggests a comfortable lifestyle with plenty of time for leisure. A person doesn’t need to live in a palace to be considered prosperous.

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

25. TheseusVocabulary Consent can be a verb meaning “agree.” Besides shaking hands, what other body language might indicate consent?

26. TheseusVocabulary Based on their expressions and body language, which people below consent and which ones disagree? disagree consent consent disagree

27. The End