"His mother stood looking on, with a sad kind of a smile on her lips and in her eyes, to see the zealous and yet puny efforts of her little boy."

Based on the text, why is Aethra sad?

Symbol: a thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.

Which of the following is an example of a symbol showing that Theseus will take his father's path and be a great king like him?

"he earnestly advised him to get on board of a vessel, and go by sea;..."

Based on the text, what does earnestly most likely mean?

Why does Theseus most likely choose to take the road despite his grandfather's advice?

"One morning, when Prince Theseus awoke, he fancied that he must have had a very sorrowful dream, and that it was still running in his mind, even now that his eyes were open. For it appeared as if the air was full of a melancholy wail; ..."

Based on the excerpt, which term is the best synonym for melancholy?

"The old king shed tears, and besought Theseus not to leave him desolate in his old age,..."

Which term would best replace the word desolate?

King Aegeus rules:

Which items did Theseus find under the rock that he lifted?

desire and determination to achieve success

having or feeling no interest in something

important; famous