The Thread of Ariadne

1. Warm-up. Read the proper names. Mind the pronunciation and the stress.

  Ariadne
  Athenian(s)
  Athens
  Crete

Minotaur

Minos
Theseus

2. Answer the questions.
Who was Ariadne?
Who lived in the Labyrinth?
What happened with the son of Minos?
What did Minos demand?
Where did you hear or read about it?
What was the monster's name?
How did he look like?
Who did Ariadne fall in love with?
What did she give to her beloved?
What is the metaphor Areadne's thread used for?

Today will speak about one of the legends of the classical Greek mythology - Ariadne's thread. Read the legend. Make sure you understand the key words: labyrinth, monarch, skein, thread, winding.
 

           The Phrase Ariadne's thread comes from Greek mythology. The father of Theseus was king of Athens. When Theseus was a young man, Athens had to pay a very disgraceful tribute to Minos, King of Crete. It happened that the son of Minos was killed by the Athenians. To avenge his death, Minos demanded that seven Athenian youths and seven maidens should be sent every ninth year to Crete. The Athenian captives were always devoured by a dreadful monster called the Minotaur. The monster had the body of a man and the head of a bull, and was shut up in the labyrinth, which consisted of so many winding passages that whoever once entered the building could never find his way out.
           On his arrival in Crete, Theseus was put into the Labyrinth. But Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, having fallen in love with him, gave him a skein of thread, one end of which he fastened at the entrance. At length he met with the monster, and killed him after a violent struggle. By following the thread back he was able to find his way out.
           The metaphor Ariadne's thread is used to describe something that helps one find a way out of a difficulty.

3. Read and decide whether the sentences below are true of false. 


The father of Theseus was king of England.
The expression comes from Roman mythology.
Minos was king of Crete.
He had a son.
The animal who lived in the Labyrinth was wild and fierce.
Minos demanded that seven Athenian youths and seven maidens should be sent every tenth year to Crete.
The Monster had the body of the bird and the head of a man.
He who once entered the Labyrinth could never find his way out.
Theseus asked Ariadne for the help
Theseus was able to find his way out by following back Ariadne's thread.

4. Complete the following sentences.

The expression Ariadne' thread means something that helps to find a way out of a . /
The son of Minos was . by the Athenians.
The animal had the body of a . and the head of a . .
Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, having fallenin love with Theseus gave him a . of . .
Theseus met with the monster and . him after a violent struggle.
 
5. Tell each other in small groups about the legend you've just heard. Use such key words as: king of Crete, king's daughter, Labyrinth, monster, a brave hero, Ariadne's thread.
 
6. Characterize the main mythological hero using the adjectives: brave, strong, courageous, tall, mighty, clever, smart.
 
7. Render the sentences into English.
 
8. Ask 5 Wh-questions.
 
Model: What does the metaphor Ariadne's thread mean?

9. Comment on the poem.

                       Woman's feeling is strong and wise
                       Everyone can sympathize
                       With Ariadne's wit and mind
                       To help her Theseus to find

                       The way home and his fame
                       From labyrinth of monster' cave.
                       Thin thread reminding of love
                       Is swift and magic like a dove.