A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
Theseus is born to Aethra and Aegeus. His father leaves his sword and sandals under a rock for Theseus to find when he is older.
After retrieving his father's sword, Theseus goes to Athens where the Marathon Bull kills a visiting prince from Crete. [Some versions say Androgeus was assassinated by jealous rivals because he was successful in the Olympic Games.] Athens and Crete go to war. Crete is victorious.
An oracle tells Athens to satisfy Minos' demands: Athens must submit fourteen young people every nine years to Knossos. Theseus volunteers as tribute to Crete, as one of the seven youths and seven maidens that Minos requires.
Ariadne, a princess in Crete, falls in love with Theseus. With the help of Daedalus, she tells Theseus to use a spool of thread to find his way. Theseus enters the labyrinth.
Theseus defeats the Minotaur and escapes.
Though Theseus won the day, tragedy strikes. Theseus forgot to change the sails from black to white. His father jumped off the cliff into the ocean from grief, thinking the mission had not been successful.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur.