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Home reading: Icarus and Daedalus
Textbook: p. 76
GoalReading a Greek myth about Icarus and Daedalus; talking about carefulness and listening to advice.
New words
wing · qanotwax · mummyth · afsonawarning · ogohlantirish
Explanation
The book has a Greek myth about Icarus and his father Daedalus, a clever craftsman. I have written the myth briefly in my own words, with a focus on the theme. The myth shows the importance of being careful and listening to a parent’s advice. The story is told in the Past Simple. Advice: “You should listen to advice”, “You shouldn’t fly too high.” A myth is not a true story but an ancient folk story from which we learn a lesson.
Worked examples
“The wings”. Daedalus was a clever inventor. He made wings of feathers and wax for himself and his son, Icarus, to escape from an island. “Fly in the middle,” he said. “If you fly too high, the sun will melt the wax.” At first Icarus flew carefully, but then he flew higher and higher. The sun melted the wax, and he fell into the sea. Moral: listen to good advice.
Mini-dialogue. — Why did Icarus fall? — He flew too high and the wax melted. — What did his father say? — Fly in the middle.
Class activity
“Give advice”: pupils give Icarus three pieces of advice (You should ... / You shouldn’t ...).
Practice
1
From the text: What did Daedalus make?
Wings of feathers and wax.
2
From the text: Why did Icarus fall?
He flew too high and the sun melted the wax.
3
Give advice to Icarus.
You shouldn’t fly too high.
4
What is the moral of the myth?
We should listen to good advice and be careful.