Plot Elements: Perseus & Medusa

On the island of Seriphos, there was an evil king named Polydectes who wanted to marry the beautiful Danae. Unfortunately, he hated her son, Perseus, because he would not leave her side. So, Polydectes devised a plan to get rid of Perseus.

• Rising Action

• Conflict

• Falling Action

• Exposition

Polydectes told Perseus to go on a dangerous odyssey to bring the head of Medusa back to him. The King thought he would get rid of Perseus and he wouldn't survive.

• Falling Action

• Conflict

• Resolution

• Climax

Perseus could not complete this quest without help. He was gifted items by gods. Zeus gave him a sword, Athena gave him a shield and knapsack, and Hermes gave him winged sandals. Perseus was now ready to begin his quest for Medusa's head.

• Resolution

• Climax

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

When Perseus arrived at Medusa's cave, Medusa and her sisters were all sleeping. Perseus aimed his shield at Medusa, so he wouldn't turn to stone, and cut off her head. He then put it in his knapsack, and escaped from her angry sisters.

• Climax

• Exposition

• Resolution

• Rising Action

After Perseus beheaded Medusa, he came across Andromeda, who was chained to a rock. Once he saved her, she told him Danae refused to marry Polydectes, so he punished her by putting her in a dungeon.

• Conflict

• Resolution

• Climax

• Falling Action

When Perseus finally arrives back to Seriphos, he asks for his mother. Polydectes thinks he did not succeed on his odyssey. Perseus pulls out Medusa's head and turns Polydectes to stone to save his mother and Andromeda.

• Resolution

• Exposition

• Climax

• Falling Action