Comprehension Homework Week beginning 15/06/20

This week the text is ‘Theseus’s Adventures’ an abridged extract from Myths of Greece and Rome by H.A. Guerber.

Theseus was a great hero in Greek mythology. As a young mn, he set out on the difficult and dangerous journey from his birthplace, Troezen, to the Greek capital Athens. He experienced many adventures during his journey. This extract describes two of those adventures.

Read the play extract then check the glossary to ensure you understand the vocabulary.

Glossary

• Stratagem - trick • Exactions – demands • Molest – attack • Yielding – giving in • Menial office – lowly task • Precipice – steep cliff Questions on the text week beginning 15/06/20 1. What do you think the word “eluded” (line 10) means?

2. How did Theseus conquer Sinis?

3. Why were people travelling on the Isthmus of Corinth unable to avoid Sciron?

4. In the third pragraph, which verb does the writer use that means “to eat”?

5. How did Sciron feel when he was forced to wash Theseus’s feet? Why do you think he felt this way?

6. Identify one feature of the text that suggests it is a myth.

7. Do you think Theseus survived the journey to Athens? Explain your answer. Answers for Theseus’s adventures week beginning 15/06/20 1. Escaped.

2. He used a huge pine tree to throw Sinis into the air so that he would smash into the mountain side.

3. Because the Isthmus was very narrow, and Sciron guarded the only possible path.

4. To devour

5. Something like: He felt afraid. He had killed all the people who had washed his feet so he was afraid that Theseus was going to kill him in the same way.

6. E.g. It includes a giant. OR It includes a huge man-eating tortoise, OR it includes a hero who must complete some difficult tasks.

7. Something like: Yes because he easily managed to defeat Sinis and Sciron, so I think he would also have been able to survive any other dangers that he might have faced on the way to Athens.