Ancient Greece the Cyclopes

Non-fiction: Ancient Greece – The Cyclopes

Ancient Greece The Cyclopes

Do you know any stories from Greek mythology? Myths are the stories that the ancient Greeks told about their gods.

The Cyclopes are famous figures1 in Greek mythology. You may have heard of them. The Cyclopes were giants. They each only had one huge eye in the middle of their foreheads.

The rulers of the universe 2 hated the Cyclopes. They threw the one-eyed giants into the underworld. A powerful god named Zeus decided that he needed the Cyclopes’ help. Zeus freed the Cyclopes from the underworld.

Out of gratitude, the Cyclopes gave Zeus gifts. Zeus received powerful thunderbolts that he could use as weapons. Zeus used his new weapons to overthrow3 the world’s rulers. Then Zeus became the ruler of the universe.

1 figures: people or characters 2 universe: all of space and time 3 overthrow: defeat, get rid of

Questions: Ancient Greece – The Cyclopes

Name: ______Date:______

1. Which of these is not a characteristic of a Cyclops?

a. being a giant b. being human c. having only one eye d. being able to give powerful gifts

2. Why did the Cyclopes give Zeus a gift?

a. They loved him. b. They hated him. c. He put them in prison. d. He freed them.

3. Based on the passage, what does gratitude mean?

a. Sadness b. Anger c. Love d. Thankfulness

4. What happened after Zeus freed the Cyclopes?

a. He became ruler of the universe. b. The Cyclopes were thrown into the underworld. c. Zeus was thrown into the underworld. d. Zeus needed the Cyclopes help.

5. The passage “The Cyclopes” is mostly about

a. the amount of eyes that Ancient Greeks had. b. how the universe was created. c. famous figures from Greek mythology. d. why the Ancient Greeks believed in teamwork.

Questions: Ancient Greece – The Cyclopes

6. What do Zeus and the Cyclopes have in common?

______

7. Would Zeus have been able to become the ruler of the universe without help from the Cyclopes?

______

8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.

The Cyclopes started out trapped underground but ______were freed by Zeus.

a. before b. therefore c. finally d. on the contrary

9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below.

When Zeus needed help the Cyclopes gave him gifts.

Who? the Cyclopes

(did) What? ______

When? ______

10. Vocabulary Word: overthrow: defeat, get rid of.

Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: ______

______3

Answers: Ancient Greece – The Cyclopes

Teacher Guide and Answers

Passage Reading Level: Lexile 580

Featured Text Structure: Descriptive – the writer explains, defines or illustrates a concept or topic

Passage Summary: The Cyclopes are famous figures in Greek mythology. After being freed by the god Zeus, they helped him become the ruler of the universe.