Activity 2: Icarus and Daedalus
Name: ______
Date: ______
1.What character trait does the author use when she is directly characterizing Daedalus?
Trait:cunning
Text evidence:“none was more cunning than Daedalus” p. 737
2.List three of Daedalus’ actions that would support this character trait.
1)Built labyrinth
2)Escaped from his cell
3)Thought of a plan to escape the island
3.Why did King Minos imprison Daedalus?
Answer:Answers will vary. Daedalus lost favor with the king.
Text evidence:“the king’s favor veered with the wind” p. 737
4.Although Daedalus escaped from his cell, why was it impossible to escape from the island?
Answer:They needed a ship, and all ships were guarded.
Text evidence:“every ship that came and went was well guarded by the king” p. 737
5.How does Daedalus get the idea for his escape from the island?
Answer:Daedalus got his idea from watching the birds.
Text evidence:“watching the sea gulls in the air—the only creatures who were sure of
liberty—he thought of a plan” p. 737
6.What is Daedalus’ warning to Icarus?
Answer:Daedalus warns Icarus not to fly too close to the earth because the for
will weight him down. He also tells him not to fly too close to the sun or it
will melt his feathers apart.
Text evidence:“…never to fly very low or very high, for the fogs about the earth would
weight you down, but the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feather
apart if you go too near” pp. 738-739
7.Why did Icarus disobey his father’s words of caution?
Answer:Answers will vary, but they should be based on text evidence.
Text evidence:“cautions went in at one ear and out by the other” p. 739
“he forgot everything in the world but joy” p. 739
“He longed for one draft of flight to quench the thirst of his captivity” p. 739
8.Why didn’t Daedalus ever attempt to fly again?
Answer:He was too sad about Icarus’ death.
Text evidence:“but he, in heavy grief, went to the temple of Apollo in Sicily, and there
hung up his wings as an offering” p. 739
9.What character traits would you use to describe the King?
Answer:Answers will vary. (Controlling, mean)
Text evidence:Answers will vary.
10.What character traits would you use to describe Icarus?
Answer:Answers will vary. (Curious, adventurous, daring, impulsive)
Text evidence:Answers will vary.
11.What character traits would you use to describe Daedalus?
Answer:Answers will vary. (Able, creative, determined, imaginative, intelligent,
inventive, resourceful)
Text evidence:Answers will vary.