Persephone: an Ancient Greek Story by Angela Mcallister/The Quarto Group on 10.01.19 Word Count 648 Level MAX

Persephone: An Ancient Greek story By Angela McAllister/The Quarto Group on 10.01.19 Word Count 648 Level MAX

Illustration by Christopher Corr/The Quarto Group

Mighty Zeus was the king of the Gods. He lived at the top of a mountain called Olympus, where he watched over all the gods and goddesses and the lives of the people below.

His brother, Hades, was the king of the Underworld, the god of the deep, dark earth and everything in it. Zeus and Hades had a sister named Demeter, who walked the surface of the Earth giving life to plants and trees. She was the goddess of the Harvest, producing fruit and vegetables and grain to feed the people of the world.

One day, Hades felt lonely, living by himself in his silent kingdom. He went to ask his brother, Zeus, how to find a wife.

"Demeter has a beautiful daughter called Persephone," Zeus said. "She would brighten your dark days, but you'll have to steal her away from her mother."

Hades secretly watched Persephone and fell in love with her sparkling eyes and cheerful laughter. But he also saw that she was the happiest dancing through the meadows with Demeter. So, he waited until she was picking flowers alone one morning and commanded the Earth to split open in

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. a great chasm. Then he leaped into his chariot and up, out of the chasm he rode. Before Persephone realized what was happening, Hades swept her into his arms and carried her back down to the Underworld. At once, the chasm closed behind them and all that was left were Persephone's flowers, lying in the grass.

Demeter searched for her daughter, calling her name over and over, but she was nowhere to be found. Days passed and Persephone did not return. Demeter grew desperately sad. Nothing thrived, nothing blossomed or bore fruit while she wandered the world, looking for her beloved daughter. Meanwhile, down in the Underworld, Hades tried to win Persephone's heart. He decorated a chamber with glistening gemstones, collected from the rocks of the Earth, and gold and silver, mined beneath the mountains, but she only wanted to return to her mother above.

Demeter lost all joy without Persephone. Plants withered, crops failed and the Earth became barren. Zeus saw that the people of the world were hungry and feared they would soon be blaming him for their fate. He sent his messenger, Hermes, to visit Hades and ask him to let Persephone return to her mother. Hades did not dare to disobey his powerful brother, Zeus. But before he let Persephone leave, he offered her a token of his love – a scarlet pomegranate. Persephone suddenly felt sorry for Hades, living alone in his sunless kingdom. "After all," she thought, "it cannot be wrong to wish for happiness." Before Hermes could stop her, she ate four pomegranate seeds. Then Hades smiled. "Now we shall be together forever, Persephone!" he said.

To her dismay, Hermes explained that anyone who eats in the Underworld must return there.

When Persephone was reunited with her mother there was much joy and celebration, but it was tinged with sadness at the news of the pomegranate seeds. Demeter went to plead with Zeus."Don't send my daughter away forever," she cried.

Zeus frowned thoughtfully. He took pity on his sister."For each seed that Persephone ate in the Underworld, she shall spend one month with Hades, who loves her dearly," he said. "But for the rest of the year, she shall return to you."

And so it was and has been ever since. Each year, in the spring and summer months, Demeter and Persephone dance and laugh together, bringing life and growth to the world; wherever they pass, plants burst into leaf, flowers blossom, fruit ripens and grain swells to fill the granaries.

But in the autumn, Persephone returns to Hades, in the Underworld, and Demeter mourns for her daughter. Then the leaves fall, plants die and the winter earth lies cold and bare.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. Quiz

1 Which option states a central idea of the text?

(A) Persephone is the beautiful daughter of Demeter, the goddess of the Harvest.

(B) Fall and winter are cold and barren because Persephone returns to the Underworld.

(D) Hades gives Persephone a pomegranate and Persephone feels sorry for Hades.

2 Which answer BEST describes how Demeter responds to losing Persephone?

(A) She gives life to plants and trees.

(B) She fills a room with gemstones.

(D) She visits the Underworld.

3 How is the story's problem resolved?

(A) Hades offers Persephone a gift that represents his love.

(B) Zeus suggests Hades consider Persephone for his wife.

(D) Demeter demands that Hades let her daughter go, but Persephone wants to stay.

4 Read the detail from the story.

How does this detail support a central idea of the text?

(A) It shows how Hades feels about Persephone.

(B) It explains Zeus' plan to help Demeter and Persephone.

(D) It highlights a dilemma that the characters face.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.