TITLE

Daedalus and Icarus

SETTING
The setting of the story Daedalus and Icarus is the Isaland of
Crete. Daedalus, together with his son, Icarus lived in Crete
before they managed to travel by air to escape the place. The
Crete was a totally guarded place and it is surrounded by the sea
which also made it hard for people to escape from it.

CHARACTERS
 Daedalus
o famous craftsman/inventor
o created wings to fly
o built the Labyrinth

 Icarus
o son of Daedalus
o not a skilled craftsman, unlike his father
o disobeys his fathers command and flies too close to the
sun, causing the wax to melt on his wings, resulting in
him plummeting to his death.

 King Minos
o King of Crete
o befriends Daedalus
o asks Daedalus to build maze to hide the Minotaur in
o banishes Daedalus and Icarus to the labyrinth after
Daedalus helps Thesues

 Talus (the nephew)

o nephew of Daedalus/ cousin of Icarus
o hardworking, skilled craftsman/inventor, almost better
than Daedalus
o pushed of a cliff by Daedalus
  Pasiphae
o Wife of King Minos
o has a child with a bull, resulting in the minotaur or puts
on cloak and is turned into minotaur

 Minotaur
o child of Pasiphae and bull or Pasiphae herself
o locked in labyrinth

 Theseus
o hero who is sent into labyrinth
o lover of Ariadne
o uses ball of yarn, supplied by Daedalus, to make his
way out of the Labyrinth after killing the minotaur

 Ariadne
o daughter of King Minos and Pasiphae
o lover of Theseus

 King Cocalus
o King of the Island Daedalus hides on
o becomes friends with Daedalus and hides him from the
wrath of King Minos

 King Cocalus's daughter

o daughter of King Cocalus
o kills King Minos when he comes to kill daedalus, freeing
Daedalus

SUMMARY
Daedalus is a skilled craftsman who is asked by King Minos of
Crete to build the Labyrinth in order to prison the Minotaur.
Daedalus tells the secrets of the Labyrinth to Ariadne so she can
tell Theseus. King Minos finds out what Daedalus did and prisons
him in the Labyrinth with his son Icarus. Daedalus builds wings
out of feathers and wax to fly away with his son, Icarus. Daedalus
warns Icarus about flying too close to the water or sun because
he will fall into the water and drown. Icarus has too much fun and
flies too close to the sun melting the wax. He can no longer fly
and drowns in the bay. Daedalus continues on to Sicily. The bay
is now called the Icarian Sea.
PLOT:

EXPOSITION
WHO: Daedalus, Icarus & King Minos of Crete
WHERE: Island of Crete (near Greece)
WHEN: When gods and mortals lived together

CONFLICT
Daedalus, an architect, was hired to build a maze by King Minos.
He is then imprisoned by the king and wants to escape off the
island with his son. Daedalus thought of a plan; he would make
wings so he and his son, Icarus, could fly away, so he made two
pair of wings from wax and bird feathers. Daedalus taught he and
his son to fly. Daedalus warned his son. He told him to not fly too
close to the sun or the wings would melt. When it was time for
them to take off, Daedalus went ahead of Icarus. Icarus was
excited by the feeling of flight, so he opened his wings and soared
upward towards the sun. Soon Icarus's wings began to melt and
he started falling down towards the vast sea.

RISING ACTION
Daedalus built the labyrinth for King Minos. Daedalus soon learns
of King Minos' evil plot to house a Minotaur in the labyrinth that
will feed on people. Daedalus asks to leave Crete and Minos
ignores Daedalus' request and imprisons Daedalus and Icarus
instead.

CLIMAX
Daedalus noticed his son was nowhere to be found so he went
back in search. Below him he saw the feathers of his son's wings
floating in the water. He knew Icarus had drowned.
Falling Action
An island nearby was named Icaria, in memory of Icarus.

RESOLUTION
Daedalus went to the temple of Apollo in Sicily and hung up his
wings as an offering. Daedalus never flew again.

SYMBOLS
 Wings: The wings symbolize freedom or escape.
 Labyrinth: The labyrinth represents captivity, evil, a place
you don’t want to be.
 Minotaur: The Minotaur represents revenge or death.
 Sun & Water: The sun and water represents our limits.

THEME
Think before you do something
The theme is shown when Icarus starts flying up and down
without care or thought, only joy. He just acts because it is fun
and does not realize what he is doing. His wax melts and feathers
fall of causing him to fall. This is when Icarus remember his dad
told him not to fly too high or too low. Icarus regrets flying too high
but it too late because he did not think.

MORAL LESSON
We should not be too greedy and want everything and neither
should we be too fearful and avoid everything.
Greed and fear are two emotions that direct lot of what we do. We
need to consciously be aware of these emotions as we live our
lives and make sure we do not fall prey to either of them. We
cannot change what er are given in life: in terms of physical
attributes, the intelligence we are born with, the money we are
born with, the people we are born with. But we can respond to life
in positive and balanced way.
TITLE
The Gorgon's Head

SETTINGS
Seriphus is an island in the Aegean Sea. & Medusa’s Cave

CHARACTERS
 King Acrisius of Argos
o Father of Danae and Perseus’ grandfather.
o He was told by Delphi that Perseus would kill him

 Danae
o Perseus single mother/daughter of King Acrisius.
o Zeus impregnates her to fulfill the prophecy.
o Also wanted by King Polydectes, who she rejects

 Zeus
o God of Thunder and King of the Gods. Father of
Perseus.
o Came in a shower of gold to fulfill the prophecy and
impregnated Danae.

 Perseus
o Son of Danae and Zeus.
o Grandson of King Acrisius.
o Goes on journey to get Medusa’s head for King
Polydectes’ wedding.
o Also rescued his future wife from serpent guarding her.

 Dictys
o Fisherman that took in and cared for Perseus and
Danae after finding them in box.
o Father figure for Perseus
 King Polydectes
o Dictys’ brother and ruler of the island. Wants to marry
Danae so he sends Perseus on a dangerous quest to
get Medusa’s head, certain he will die in the process.

 Medusa
o Woman with snakes as hair. Can turn anyone to stone
if they look at her.
o Perseus cuts her head off to get revenge on Polydectes

 Gray Woman
o Three women who share an eye.
o Perseus tricks them into telling him how to find the
nymphs of the north.

 Hermes
o God of speed and messenger of the gods.
o Gives advice to Perseus and give him and
unbreakable/unbendable sword

 Athena
o Goddess of wisdom.Gives Perseus a sword and a
startegy to beat Medusa

 Andromeda
o Daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and the woman
Perseus falls in love with

 Queen Cassiopeia
o Andromeda’s mother who was so arrogant that the
gods punished her.
o She gave up her daughter to protect the people of
Ethiopia

 King of Larissa
o Had a discus throwing competition with Perseus that
Acrisius was attending.
o This was where he was killed by Perseus
SUMMARY
The myth starts with a king of Argos naked Acrisius who
had a daughter named Danaë. The king had wanted a child and
wanted to know if he'd have a son, however a priestess that he
had asked not only said no, but that his daughter would have a
son that would kill hok. The only day to defy the prophecy, he'd
have to kill Danaë which his fatherly affection could not do. He
had built a bronze house underground with only part of the roof
open to the sky so that light and air may come. There, he guarded
her. A mysterious occurrence had happened where a shower of
gold fell from the sky who had supposedly been thought of as
Zeus who visited Danaë ine. A mysterious occurrence had
happened where a shower of gold fell from the sky who had
supposedly been thought of as Zeus who visited Danaë in that
shape. Eventually, a boy named Perseus was born and when
Acrisius found out, He feared him not only because of fate, but
also because of the fear of Zeus and the Furies. He created a
chest where he would put both of them in and send them out to
sea since he can't kill them.King Acrisius of Argos had a daughter
Danaë. Danaë would have a son who would kill Acrisius. Danaë
was put in a bronze house underground. Zeus visits Danaë in a
shower of gold and Danaë will bear a son named Perseus.
Acrisius is angry and sets Danaë and her son to sea in a chest. A
fisherman, Dictys, discovered them and took the two to his home.
Polydectes, brother of Dictys, was the cruel ruler of the island.
Polydectes convinced Perseus to bring Medusas head as a gift.
Hermes and Athena watched over Perseus, as he searched for
the Gorgons. He went to Dodona of talking oaks. Perseus must
go to the Gray Women for directions to the Nymphs of the North.
Perseus was given a sword by Hermes and a shield by Athena.
He went to the land of Hyperboreans where the people welcomed
him. Winged sandals, a magic wallet, and a cap of invisibility was
given to him as gifts. Perseus used the three gifts when
confronting the Gorgons. He met a women named Andromeda,
daughter of Queen Cassiopeia. Killed the serpent when he waited
with Andromeda. Went back to the island in search of her mother
with Andromeda. Used Medusa's head and turned the king and
servants to stone. Andromeda, Perseus, and his mother went to
Greece for Acrisius. Perseus attended a discus throwing contest
and hit Acrisius. The oracle of Apollo came true.
 The chest that Danaë and Perseus where they rocked back
and forth; they were tossed along the waves. They couldn't see
where they were nor did they have any idea where they were
going. Soon after, they reached land when the chess finally stops
and the waves had left them motionless. A fisherman named
Dictys found them and he had broke that trust taking the two back
to his home with a wife as good as he. Dictys and his wife didn't
have children but they cared and nurtured Danaë and Perseus as
if they were their own. Trouble arose where the brother of Dictys,
Polydectes, was the ruler of the island. He was a cruel and
ruthless man and hadn't noticed that the mother and the son.
Eventually, Danaë had caught Polydectes' attention. Polydectes
fell in love with her and she was still beautiful even after her son
Perseus was fully grown. Polydectes plotted a way to get rid of
Perseus. He convinced him that the head of a Gorgon would be
something a person would want more than anything else in the
world.

Polydectes invited all to his soon-to-be married celebration.

All were supposed to provide gifts for the bride to be because it
was customary. Perseus, who didn't know he had to, was the only
one without a gift and claimed that he will bring the head of
Medusa, a Gorgon, as a gift. Whoever looked at Medusa was
instantly turned into stone. Perseus was saved from his folly as
the two gods, Athena, God a wisdom, and Hermes, the
Messenger God, was watching over him. Perseus took ship after
leaving the Kings hall. He went to Greece to find the whereabouts
of the three core gone. He asked a priestess in Delphi, but only
she said it is where men do not eat Demeters golden grain, only
acorns. He then went to go to Dodona in the land of talking oak
trees. There, they told Perseus where Selli lived whom made their
bread from acorns. I see wandered about he met a strange and
beautiful person. He had met Hermes who had a gold wand with
wings, a winged hat, and winged sandals. He was the guide in the
giver of good. In order for him to kill Medusa, he had to have the
proper equipment. He had to go to the Gray Women who will tell
him how to go to the nymphs of the North.

In order for Perseus to get that information on how to reach

the nymphs of the north, Hermes told Perseus he had to hide until
he saw one of them take the eye out of her for head to pass it on.
When that time comes, he has to take the eye and refuse to take
it back until they told him the information he needed. Hermes
gave Perseus a sword to fight Medusa rest. It could not be bent
nor broken by the scales of the Gorgons. Athena, the god of
wisdom, had another gift for purchase. She had a shield polished
with bronze and told Perseus that when he attacks the Gorgon,
he god of wisdom, had another gift for purchase. She had a shield
polished with bronze and told Perseus that when he attacks the
Gorgon, he must look at that field as if it were a mirror to avoid
Medusa's power of turning people who looked at her into stone.
Soon enough, Perseus found the Gray Woman with Hermes and
did as he was told. He waited until he saw one of them take the
eye out of the forehead, and he snatched it without a thought.

They gave Perseus the directions on on how to go to the

nymphs of the north and he went on his way. He had entered the
country of Hyperboreans where no one can find the wondrous
road to the gathering place by ship nor land, but because of
Hermes by his side, he was able to find the road where people
greeted him with kindness and invited them to their feast. Perseus
was given gifts of winged sandals, a magic wallet that could carry
anything, and a cap that made him invisible. With those items and
Athenas shield, he was able to take on the Gorgons who lived in
the Terrible Sisters' island. When Perseus confronted them, they
were all asleep. They had great wings, their bodies covered in
golden scales and snakes for hair. Athena and Hermes told him
who was Medusa since she's the only one that can be killed while
the other two were immortal. He hovered above the Gorgons,
looking at the shield, he sliced Medusa as Athena guided his
hand. He took the head and put it in his magical wallet. When the
other two Gorgons tried to take hold of him, Perseus had put on
his cap that made him invisible.

On his way back home, he came to Ethiopia and landed

there. Perseus found a lovely maiden names Andromeda who
was going to be devoured by a sea serpent. The Mother, Queen
Cassiopeia, had boasted on her beauty being more superior than
the Sea God Nereus. Her punishment for arrogance had fell upon
her daughter. The Ethiopians kept being devoured by the sea
serpent but had been told by an oracle that if Andromeda was
offered to the serpent, they all would be freed. Perseus at first
sight fell in love with her. He waited for the serpent to come from
the ocean, and when the serpent did, he cut the head off. He then
took her to her parents to marry her. When he returned to the
island, he found that Dictys' wife had been dead and he and
Danaë had fled to hide away from Polydectes who was furious
when Danaë refused to marry him. They escaped to a temple.
When the King had held a banquet, for everyone who favored
him, Perseus went to the hall and grabbed the attention of
everyone with Athena's buckler and his silver wallet.

He then took the head of Medusa and before anyone could

look away, the king and servants turned to stone. They Stood as
statues. The islanders were freed from the tyrant and he was able
to find Danaë and Dictys. Dictys became king and Perseus, his
mother, and Andromeda went to Greece to reunite with his
grandfather Acrisius. Although, Acrisius wasn't anywhere to be
found. Eventually, an athletic contest was being held by The King
of Larissa in the North and Perseus went to participate. During the
discus throwing, he hurled the object and fell amongst the crowd.
Amongst the crowd was Acrisius who had come to visit the King
and had been hit. As it was said, the prophecy came true that one
day Perseus will kill his grandfather.

EXPOSITION
Perseus and his mother, Danae, live on the island of Seriphus
with a fisherman named Diktys. Diktys brother Polydectes, is a
king of island, and he likes Danae. Polydectes wished for Perseus
death. Polydectes challenges Persues "Great, bring me the head
of a Gorgon."

RISING ACTION
With the help of the gods Athena and Hermes, Perseus starts his
journey to bring Polydectes the head of a Gorgon. Perseus finds
the three old hangs and pressures them into telling him and team
where the Nymphai. Perseus picks up some help tools such as;
Hades, shiny bronze shield and wing sandals.

CLIMAX
Perseus chops off Medusa's head and a steady and strong get a
way back home. Medusa's sisters, Stheno and Euryale, wake up,
and they are not happy. They chase after Perseus.

FALLING ACTION
While Perseus is flying over Africa, he notices the beautiful
maiden, Princess Andromeda, tied to a rock by the sea. He ends
up rescuing her from a sea monster and making her his wife.

RESOLUTION
Polydectes and friends are all turned to stonePerseus gives
Medusa's head to Athena, who places it on the front of her shield.

MORAL LESSON
The message and moral of the story perseverance. Perseus
never gave up even though no one believed that he could retrieve
the head of Medusa. But when he came back with the head of
Medusa he proved to everyone that he was stronger then they
thought.
TITLE
Orpheus

SETTINGS
The Settings Thrace and the Underworld. Thrace is a beautiful,
musical place. The Underworld is a deep, dark place of death.

CHARACTERS
 Orpheus
o The main character of the story is is a very good
singer/musician and sings to Persephone and Pluto in
order to get his wife back from the Underworld.

 Eurydice
o The wife of Orpheus whom was bitten on the ankle by a
snake on her wedding day and died. Her beloved husband
attempted to retrieve her back from the Underworld but was
unsuccessful.

 River Styx/Underworld
o River Styx: Moat prominent river that gives those who are
dipped in invincibility. 
o Asfhdal Meadows: Normal People
o Elysian Fields: Good People
o Tardaris: Hell, bad people
o Isle of Blest: Can stay or are reborn.

 Charon
o The ferryman. He carries dead bodies across the river styx
.
 Cerberus
 o 3 headed, serpent tail, snake haired dog that guards the
entrance to the underworld and is related to medusa
.
 Furies
o The female deities of vengeance who were 3 beautiful
(sometimes ugly) woman of the Underworld.

 Proserpina
o The goddess of spring who was abducted by Hades in
order to be his bride.

 Pluto
o God of the underworld and eldest son of the Titans.

 The Fates
o Three sister who control the lives of mortals and can make
decisions over the gods heads.

 Danaids
o 50 sisters who kill 49 of their 50 cousins and they are all
sentenced to be tortured in hell.

 Ixion
o His punishment in hell is to spin that wheel of fire.

 Tityus
o His punishment in hell is that he is tied to a rock and his
liver is constantly eaten by a vulture.

 Olenos
o After his wife got in trouble with a goddess and he took the
blame, him and his wife were placed in the Underworld.

 Sisyphus
o Punishment is to role boulder up the hill constantly after
tricking the gods.

 Tantalus
o He fed the gods human and was punished to stand in a
pool of water but can not drink and be under fruit but can
not eat.

 Hymenaeus
o The god of marriage ceremonies.
SUMMARY
Long, long, ago there was lad with a great musical ability.
His name was Orpheus, the son of Apollo and Calliope, one of the
Muses. He was a wonderful lyre player, that played inspirational
music. Orpheus' music was not only soft and soothing, it was
magical! It could tame the wildest beasts. His parents were also
musically talented, so Orpheus joined the family legacy.

Eurydice, Orpheus' beloved love and wife, died when she

was of young age. She was bitten by a snake and died an
immediate death. At the death of his love's life, Orpheus traveled
to the Underworld. He pleaded to Hades, God of the Underworld,
to allow his wife to come with him back to Earth. Orpheus cried
his heart out through his lyre. He played it Hades and this showed
the God how much he cared for her.

By feeling remorseful due to Orpheus' song, Hades allowed

his wife to be set free, but on one condition. Orpheus was allowed
to go back to Earth with Eurydice, as long as he doesn't look back
when still in the Underworld. Curiosity killed the cat as many say,
but in this case it killed Orpheus and Eurydice's love.

Orpheus believed that the God of the Underworld was

playing a trick on him and was deceiving him. On returning back
to the Upper World, Orpheus looked back to see if his love was
actually there. He took a quick glance and saw his wife mouthing
the words, "goodbye..". The love of this life was lost forever in the
land of life after death.

EXPOSITION
Orpheus, the great musician, and Eurydice get married and begin
their life together. As they run through a field together, Eurydice
gets bitten by a poisonous snake and falls to the ground. Eurydice
and her spirit sink into the ground and fall to the underworld.

RISING ACTION
Orpheus goes addresses Hades and then to move him, he plays
his sweet music and then changes Hades hard heart. He allows
Orpheus to take Eurydice back up to Earth under one condition,
he had to trust she was behind him and not look back.

CLIMAX
When the journey back up to Earth was almost finished and
Orpheus had stepped into the light, he looked back for a split
second to make sure she was there, but it was too soon.

FALLING ACTION
Orpheus began to sing his beautiful song and as he sang the
trees covered him to protect him. She was still in the underworld,
and so she was sucked back in and whispered one word on the
way back, "Farewell."

MORAL LESSON
that trust is essential when dealing with love. The story of
Orpheus is an amazing one, and Ovid, the Roman poet, has
made this story enduring for us. ... When Eurydice dies, Orpheus
mourns for her. His true love is now gone, but the power of death
was not as strong as his love.