A Hero's Journey: Perseus and Medusa Pt. 1

Acrisius’ eyes widened in horror as the ancient Pythia (priestess) hissed, “King of Argos, listen well. Your daughter’s son will spell your doom!” 
“My daughter is unmarried. She has no son,” he spluttered. The Pythia smiled knowingly through the swirling vapours that rose from the chasm below her, but spoke no more.

Acrisius, shocked, stumbled from the Oracle in Apollo’s temple at Delphi. “This will not happen,” he vowed.
On his arrival at his palace, his beautiful daughter, Danae, ran to greet him. Her joy turned to dismay as he roughly grabbed her arm. He dragged her to a bronze room at the top of the palace, thrusting her inside and locking the heavy door.
Each day the door opened only to admit a young slave girl with food.

The room was open to the sky, but Danae had no means of escape. She could only wonder in sorrow why her father had turned against her so. 
However, her pleas and sighs were heard in the heavens by Zeus. He looked down at the beautiful maiden, and immediately fell in love with her. So, one night, he visited her as a shower of golden light, and from this heavenly union, nine months later, a baby boy was born. He was called Perseus.

On discovering this, Acrisius raged and roared. Fearful of Zeus’ wrath if he murdered them, however, he ordered his daughter and baby grandson to be put into a wooden chest and tipped into the raging sea. Danae’s prayers were so desperate as they were pitched and tossed by the waves that Poseidon, god of the seas, was stirred by their plight and calmed the waters.

Even so, mother and baby bobbed around the sea for days and days, without food or water. Finally they were washed up on the strange, mysterious island of Serifos. Here they were taken in by a kind fisherman called Dyctus, brother to the king, Polydectes. He gave them shelter for many years. During that time, Perseus grew into a strong, handsome youth who was very protective of his lovely mother. Unhappily, she eventually came to the notice of the King.

The known, where Perseus was quite familiar was called

• Serifos
• Athens
• Minos
• Delphi

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Why was King Acrisius afraid of his grandchild? 

• Grandchild would be a daughter
• Grandchild would one day rule over the king
• Grandchild would one day kill the king
• Grandchild would one day need childcare

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On discovering this, Acrisius raged and roared. Fearful of Zeus’ wrath if he murdered them, however, he ordered his daughter and baby grandson to be put into a wooden chest and tipped into the raging sea. Danae’s prayers were so desperate as they were pitched and tossed by the waves that Poseidon, god of the seas, was stirred by their plight and calmed the waters.

Why didn't King Acrisius kill his daughter when she had a son?

• He didn't believe the curse
• He fell in love with the child
• He was afraid of retribution from Zeus
• He didn't know the child was born. 

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King Polydectes was a cruel and evil tyrant. He summoned Danae and her son to court. Perseus did all he could to guard his mother against the King’s unwanted attentions. Polydectes, angered, planned how he could get the young man out of the way. He ordered a feast and invited all the young men and women of the court. Unsuspecting, Perseus eagerly turned up, only to find that all the other guests were carrying an expensive present for the monarch.

“Are you not aware of our customs?” one guest sneered. And then, in front of the whole court, Polydectes called out, “Perseus, where is your gift?” Shamefaced, Perseus blustered, “I can bring you a fine gift, anything in the world, what is your wish?”
The clever king, playing on the young man’s embarrassment, replied, after a thoughtful pause.
“Anything? You would deliver to me anything in the world?” he asked. Perseus nodded.
“Well then, bring me the head of the Gorgon Medusa.”

There was a collective gasp from all in the room, except from Perseus.
“Consider it done!” he shouted, anxious to prove himself in any way he could.
The courtiers looked at each other in stunned surprise and then started to titter. The three female Gorgons were monstrous and deadly creatures that guarded the entrance to the underworld. Of the three, only Medusa was mortal and could be killed. Surely this ignorant young man had no idea what he was taking on, they thought.

How did King Polydectes get Perseus to leave the kingdom?

• By inviting him to a banquet in another city
• By making him a king of another country
• Playing to his hubris (false pride)
• Revealing the location of his real father

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The clever king, playing on the young man’s embarrassment, replied, after a thoughtful pause.
“Anything? You would deliver to me anything in the world?” he asked. Perseus nodded.
“Well then, bring me the head of the Gorgon Medusa.”

There was a collective gasp from all in the room, except from Perseus.
“Consider it done!” he shouted, anxious to prove himself in any way he could.
The courtiers looked at each other in stunned surprise and then started to titter. The three female Gorgons were monstrous and deadly creatures that guarded the entrance to the underworld. Of the three, only Medusa was mortal and could be killed. Surely this ignorant young man had no idea what he was taking on, they thought.


From the text, why didn't Perseus seem worried about Medusa? 

• He was the only brave one
• He had no clue of who Medusa was
• He know Medusa was not real
• He thought the king said, "Madea."

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Perseus was called to adventure..

• by accident
• by choice
• by force
• by both force and choice

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To cross over from Known to Unknown, the hero must face...

• Threshold Guardian (Refusal)
• Transformation
• The Abyss
• Rewards

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Next morning, with a heavy heart, Perseus set off on his journey. Danae was distraught and begged him not to go. “I have made a promise,” he said resolutely. “Please don’t worry mother. I will return and free you from the attentions of this man!” 
As he stood at the crossroads outside the town, his resolution wavered. In truth, he had no idea which path to take. Suddenly there appeared before him a young man with winged sandals and a tall woman in a white robe, holding a shield and spear.Perseus was in great need of allies because...

• He had no clue where to start
• He had no weapons
• He had no transportation
• All choices are correct

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Hermes, Athena and the Nymphs are considered..

• Allies
• Obstacles
• Enemies
• Rewards

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Athena handed him a highly polished shield. “Look only at Medusa’s reflection through this," she warned, "for anyone casting their eyes upon her hideous face will be instantly turned to stone." 
Athena continued: "You must find the Old Grey Sisters that live on the northern shore. Make them tell you how to locate the daughters of Hesperus, the Nymphs who tend the garden of the Goddess Hera. They have been entrusted with items you need to defeat the Gorgon."

"They will also tell you how to find her lair. Be bold yet cunning in your quest, we wish you well."
Perseus, thanked them for their gifts. "Others have failed, I know," he said, "so I will heed your advice gladly." 

The Grey Sisters were considered...

• Allies
• Obstacles
• Approach (setbacks)
• Mentors

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