Theseus

Before stories were recorded on papyrus or paper, they were originally passed down verbally through the oral tradition. Imagine that you are a bard who must now remember and retell the story of Theseus and the Minotaur to an audience. What are some challenges you might face in remembering the telling? What are some changes that you might make to engage an audience of your peers? Would you tell this story the same way to your peers as you would to a large audience seeking entertainment? If not, what changes would you make to that retelling?

Analyze the story of Theseus and the Minotaur from your own perspective. Look at the mythical, cosmological, and sociological meanings of the story and position them within your own life and experiences. What lessons do you learn, or in what ways do you understand the world better after reading this text?

After leaving Crete, Theseus abandons Ariadne on a beach of Naxos, an island they stop at along the way. He has just saved the people of Athens and the most recent round of tributes. Considering these contrasting behaviors, explain whether or not Theseus is a hero.