Theseus & Ariadne OST Practice G8

Which sentence from Passage 1 suggests that Theseus believes his goals are important?

• “Theseus resolved to deliver his countrymen from this calamity, or to die in the attempt.” (paragraph 2)

• “The ship departed under black sails, as usual, which Theseus promised his father to change for white, in case of his returning victorious.” (paragraph 2)

• “On their way they stopped at the island of Naxos, where Theseus abandoned Ariadne, leaving her asleep.” (paragraph 2)

• “His excuse for this ungrateful treatment of his benefactress was that Minerva appeared to him in a dream and commanded him to do so.” (paragraph 2)

Part A: What is a theme of Passage 1?

• Heroes can still be flawed as people.

• Trust is hard to restore once it has been broken.

• It is important to trust your instincts in dangerous situations.

• Being strong mentally is an important part of overcoming obstacles.

Part B: How does Theseus’s behavior reflect the theme in Part A?

• He promises his father that he will return.

• He falls in love with Ariadne upon first meeting her.

• He deserts Ariadne on an island despite claiming to love her.

• He volunteers himself as part of the tribute to fight the Minotaur.

What does the description of the ship in lines 15–23 of Passage 2 reflect about Theseus’s arrival?

• It is meant to intimidate the people in the city.

• It is a surprising event for the people in the city.

• It is a distraction meant to trick the people in the city.

• It is impressive and exciting for the people in the city.

Part A: How is the structure of Passage 1 different from the structure of Passage 2?

• Passage 1 relies on a series of flashbacks to explain characters’ histories.

• Passage 1 uses descriptive imagery to give a vivid picture of the setting.

• Passage 1 highlights the perspective and experiences of one character.

• Passage 1 describes a series of events that take place over time.

Part B: What is the impact of the difference in Part A?

• Passage 1 has a more simplistic plot.

• Passage 1 has a more optimistic overall tone.

• Passage 1 provides more context for understanding the story.

• Passage 1 gives more detail about the history of the characters.

What is the effect of the change in focus between the stanzas in Passage 3?

• It creates irony, since Ariadne turns out to be doing well without Theseus.

• It creates tension, since the reader does not know which character to support.

• It creates humor, since it turns out that Ariadne was the one who abandoned Theseus.

• It creates confusion, since the reader does not know whether the events are real or imagined.

Which aspect of the story in Passage 3 is a revision of the story in Passage 1?

• Passage 3 suggests that Theseus is tricked into leaving Ariadne behind.

• Passage 3 suggests that Theseus makes a plan to reunite with Ariadne on the island.

• Passage 3 explains how both Theseus and Ariadne feel about what happened to them.

• Passage 3 explains that both Theseus and Ariadne share responsibility for their separation.

In your own words, write a multi-paragraph response in which you analyze how the characters of Ariadne and Theseus are presented differently in the passages. Be sure to consider differences such as the characters’ thoughts, feelings, and actions. Your response must be based on ideas and information that can be found in the passages.