Heroic Pattern “Theseus and the Minotaur” A more detailed look at four of the stages that you may use to full develop three body paragraphs

Birth/ Origin This first stage establishes Theseus’ path and destiny to become a hero Aegeus worries that someone in Athens or his brothers will try to take the throne from him; neither he nor his future children are safe in such a tumultuous age. As a result, Aegeus finds love elsewhere. He secretly marries the daughter of King of Troezen in order to protect the lives of his future children. (80-81) Aegeus tells his new wife that if she bears him a son then she should let him come to Athens only when he is full grown. He leaves the sandals and sword beneath the mighty rock and returns to Athens. (81) Theseus is born into royalty and raised in secrecy, which fulfills the heroic quest motif. At the age of 16 he is able to lift the mighty rock and find the special sandals and sword his father left for him at birth. Take these rough notes and turn them into three detailed points. Provide textual evidence from the text using the page numbers provided. Analyze and explain the significance of your findings for each particular point.

The Call to Adventure Aegeus places the special sandals and sword underneath a mighty rock. He knows that when his future son is full grown he will lift the rock and come to Athens to find Aegeus and become the next king. (80-81) Theseus tries to lift the rock when he is fifteen but can’t do it. His mother tells him to “let it be, son, for another year. By then you will be strong enough” (81). At the age of sixteen Theseus is able to lift the rock after a year of constant exercise. (81) This moment sends Theseus on his journey to find his father. Take these rough notes and turn them into three detailed points. Provide textual evidence from the text using the page numbers provided. Analyze and explain the significance of your findings for each particular point.

Tests Theseus attacks the giant who is carrying a club. This shows that his hard work has paid off as he is able to kill the giant with ease and confidence. (82, paragraph 1) The wrestler who wants to test his skills on any passer by. Theseus crushes him. (82, last paragraph) The huge, disheveled man who says Theseus must pay his toll before passing. Theseus throws him off the cliff to the huge man-eating turtle below. (82, paragraph third from bottom of page) The man with the long beard, the inn-keeper, asks Theseus if he’s heard of “Bed of Procrustes”. The man will alter people’s bodies if they don’t fit his bed. Theseus puts the man on the bed and cuts off his feet and head for doing the same to many other people before. (83) A witch in Athens tells Aegeus that he’ll be visited by an assassin. She prepares a cup of poison that Theseus almost drinks upon his arrival until his father, Aegeus, notices he is wearing the sandals and sword. (83) Take these rough notes and turn them into three detailed points. Provide textual evidence from the text using the page numbers provided. Analyze and explain the significance of your findings for each particular point.

Climax/ Final Battle Theseus is given thread by Ariadne to take into the Labyrinth with the 14 other people being sacrificed to the Minotaur. He walks in and no one seems to notice “the thin thread” trailing behind him. (84) Inside the Labyrinth Theseus uses his knowledge of strategy and sense of smell to protect the others from the monster. He keeps everyone behind him and leads them through the maze. (85) Theseus smells the Minotaur is near, holds out his sword in the darkness as the Minotaur charges forward and is “sliced through its neck”. (85) Take these rough notes and turn them into three detailed points. Provide textual evidence from the text using the page numbers provided. Analyze and explain the significance of your findings for each particular point.