Minotaur Slayer and Champion of Athens: Theseus Faces the Minotaur (Part 4)
The son of the Marathonian Bull lurks within a winding Labyrinth and brings death to anyone who becomes lost in those halls. How will Theseus slay the Minotaur and then find his way out?
Daryan Borys
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(406)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursHomework
Be a hero.Class Experience
US Grade 4 - 6
On this journey, students will discover through maps and visual aids the adventure of Theseus facing his greatest foe, the Minotaur, what he is most famous for. We will explore the backstory of Europe itself with the story of 'Europa' and the founding of Crete. Students will learn of Minos and how he rose to power, Theseus falling in love with Ariadne, Minos' daughter, and how she ensures Theseus' success. The fight between Theseus and the Minotaur will be central to this class and we will discuss several different versions through the ages, including short stories such as 'La Casa de Asterion' (The House of Asterion) by Jorge Luis Borges. We will learn of the flight from Crete, how the Aegean Sea and Icarian Sea received their names. Finally, we will discover the fate of Minos and that of Daedalus, the brilliant architect of the Labyrinth. Images and some video may be shared to help bring this story to life and I as the storyteller will use my theatrical background to make the tale memorable. Class sizes are kept small to ensure students are given ample opportunity to interact with the teacher and each other. Students are encouraged to speak freely but take care to not speak over each other.
Learning Goals
Students develop an appreciation of ancient literature and learn about Theseus, Aegeus, the Oracle of Delphi, Minos, Daedalus, Icarus, Ariadne, Dionysus, the Minotaur whose name is actually Asterion, and far more. Etymology of words connected to these stories will be discussed. Information is sourced from Pseudo-Apollodorus' 'Bibliotheca', Euripides' 'Hippolytus', Herodotus' 'Histories', and Plutarch's 'The Parallel Lives.' Further information is sourced from the works including, but no limited to, of Pindar, Sappho, Sophocles, and Homer.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Spoiler, the Minotaur dies. The Minotaur eats human flesh and displays the dead in macabre statuesque poses under a false assumption the dead are simply asleep. This is presented in a comical fashion and reads far more dour than when performed. Within the story, a woman has a child with a bull, resulting in the birth of the Minotaur. Students will NOT be hearing how Daedalus built a mechanical cow for Pasiphae in order to complete this deed. There is no imagery or narrative present in the lesson about this. We will simply learn "Pasiphae fell in love with the Cretan Bull" and leave it at that. Inquiring minds may be told of the mechanical cow, but no further.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
Pseudo-Apollodorus' 'Bibliotheca', Euripides' 'Hippolytus', Herodotus' 'Histories', Plutarch's 'The Parallel Lives'
Joined April, 2020
5.0
406reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
As a professor at Ukrainian Catholic University and a seasoned educator, I'm passionate about sharing my love of literature and language with students of all ages. My years of experience in the classroom have equipped me with the skills to create engaging and effective learning experiences.
From the mythical realms of Greek mythology to the timeless classics of Shakespeare, I'm dedicated to helping students develop a deep appreciation for storytelling and a strong foundation in language skills.
Let's embark on a literary adventure together and discover the power of words to inspire, educate, and entertain!Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$22
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 22 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-12
1-6 learners per class
