Flight of Icarus

Which of the following events occurs first in the myth?

• Daedalus designs wings for himself and Icarus.

• Theseus escapes from King Minos’s labyrinth.

• Daedalus and Icarus watch how birds fly.

• Daedalus names the land Icaria.

 Daedalus decides to escape from Crete by air because —

•  other prisoners have escaped by flying
• his son, Icarus, is a poor swimmer
•  he is unfamiliar with the roads in Crete
• King Minos will not have the power to stop him

 From his behavior in the beginning of the myth, you can infer that Icarus —

•  is still a young boy
•  is worried about his father
•  feels lonely
•  is a gifted athlete

Daedalus warns his son that if he flies too low, —

• he will crash into the ground
•  the spray from the sea will clog his wings
•  their enemies will see him
•  he will be attacked by gulls

Icarus flies higher and higher because he —

•  is angry at his father
• cannot see where he is going
•  enjoys the sense of freedom
• is frightened by the wild sea

What warning sign indicates that Icarus is in danger?

• Small feathers fall off his wings.
•  His father flies toward earth.
• A cool wind blows on his face.
• He begins to feel faint.

Icarus’s wings finally fall apart because —

• he flutters them too much
• the heat of the sun melts the wax
• the gods and goddesses want to punish him
• they are too small for him

 Daedalus does not hear his son’s cries because —

• Icarus is shouting in the wrong direction
• he is flying too far ahead of Icarus
•  he is focused on trying to save himself
•  Icarus’s voice is muffled by the sea

What happens to Daedalus at the end of the myth?

• He dies of grief.

• King Minos forgives him.

• Apollo rewards him.

• He finds safety in Sicily.

Which of the following statements best expresses a moral of the myth?

• If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
• It is better to be true to yourself than to follow others.
• Know your limits before you leap into action.
• Freedom is a goal worth sacrificing for.