Perseus

Perseus Reading Cloze Notes Long ago, there lived a king named Acrisius. A prophecy told him that if he had a grandson, the child would one day overthrow him. So King Acrisius threw his daughter Danae into an underground prison. But Zeus got in anyway, and soon Danae had a son named Perseus. Perseus became a fine and good young man. But then one day, King _________________ came to visit. The King knew that Perseus would oppose a marriage, so he schemed to get rid of the young man.

The King held a giant banquet The King held a giant banquet. Everyone was supposed to bring a ___________. But Perseus was poor, and had nothing. So he said, “I will bring you any other _______ that you desire.” “Fine,” said the King. “Bring me ___________________________.” Medusa was one of the ___________. She had __________ for hair, and anyone who looked at her was turned to __________________. So, Perseus took off on his ___________. He was visited by the goddess _________________ who gave him a _________________ and told him to visit the _______________, three old women who lived in a cave and shared on ____________ and one ____________ between them. They told him where the _______________ lived.

Along the way, Perseus traveled through Hades, where water nymphs from the River __________ gave him a cap of invisibility, and a magical _______________ for Medusa’s head. Hermes gave Perseus a special curved __________________ and a pair of winged ___________________. At last, Perseus reached the home of Medusa and her sisters. He held up his shield, and got close to Medusa by looking at the reflection, not at her. He was able to cut off her head, place it in the magical bag, and escape. Back home, King ________________ was still trying to marry Perseus’s mother, _______________. So Perseus walked in, and said, “I have brought you _______________________________!” He held it up and the King and his whole court were turned to __________________.

Our Big Idea This Year: People aren’t ______ heroes… They _____________ heroes by going on a ______________________

The Hero’s Journey: More Examples Path of Trials G Master of Two Worlds: The Return K Crossing a Border O Call to Adventure H Regular World

Characters to Know: Perseus • Son of Danae and Zeus • Raised on the Island of Seriphos; a fine young man.

Characters to Know: Danae • Locked underground to keep her from having children. Zeus entered in a shower of gold, made her pregnant. • father locked them in a box and set them afloat.

Characters to Know: King Polydectes • Wanted to marry Danae • Perseus didn’t like Polydectes

Characters to Know: 3 Women (Graea) • Three old women who lived in a cave • Had one eye and one tooth shared between them • Were the sisters of the gorgons

Characters to Know: Medusa • Hideously ugly: snakes for hair; scaly skin • Anyone who looked at her was instantly turned to stone.

Characters to Know: Gorgons • The sisters of Medusa, who kept and protected her. • They were dangerous, flying women

1. The Quest Begins Polydectes wanted to get Perseus out of the way. Once he invited Perseus to a feast, the price for admission was to bring the king a horse. Perseus said he could just as easily bring him the Gorgon’s head (meaning he was way too poor). Polydectes said “Do it, then,” and sent him on the quest.

2. Help from the Gods Athena and Hermes both took pity on Perseus. Hermes lent him a special sword called a scimitar, along with flying slippers. Athena gave him a highly polished shield. River nymphs gave him a cap of invisibility and a special bag to carry Medusa’s head.

3. The Graea Athena also told Perseus that to find the Medusa, he must first talk to the Graea. Perseus stole the one eye that they shared, and refused to give it back until they told him how to find the Medusa. They did.

4. Killing the Medusa All of Perseus’ gifts came in handy: He flew there and away with the winged sandals He looked in the polished shield so as not to be turned into stone while he cut off the Gorgon’s head with the scimitar. He popped the head right into the magic bag. He got away with it because he was invisible.

5. Cool Extra Facts As Medusa died, her two sons by Poseidon sprang out: Chrysaor (golden-sword), later father of Geryon, and Pegasus, the winged horse From the drops of the gorgon’s blood as Perseus flew across Libya came all the poisonous snakes of the world.

6. Saving Danae • Perseus returned home just in time to save his mother from Polydectes. • He pulled Medusa’s head out to show that he had killed her. • Seeing the head, Polydectes was turned immediately to stone…and he died!