1
The name hasn’t exactly caught on with the other members of my group, but I think of myself as the quiz bowl king, and I’m about to make my school’s team the best one in the entire state. In preparation for the state competition, I’ve spent hours each day for the last several months making sure there is no question that will stump me. I can name every U.S. president who has ever been in office, tell you which professional baseball player holds the record for the most home runs, and explain how photosynthesis works. Looks like it’s time for me to get in the hot seat and show the audience what I know.
2
A few hours into the competition, and we’re well on our way to victory. Things are closer than I anticipated they would be, though. Our opponents have a total of 26 points, while my teammates and I—well, mostly me—have managed to rack up a total of 28 points. Although my fellow trivia buffs might not show it, and may sometimes appear to be annoyed when I consistently ring my buzzer before the question is even half finished, I know they must secretly be grateful to have such a genius on their team. Without me, they honestly wouldn’t stand a chance.
3
Jason and Katie answered two questions incorrectly, so now we need to have a tiebreaker. After all of our hard work, the outcome of the competition is going to come down to just one question. We have thirty seconds to decide who is going to take on this huge responsibility and represent our team.
4
“You answered everything else today and didn’t give us a chance. I guess you should do this part too, Travis,” Jason says sarcastically.
5
“Yes, I agree,” I say, ignoring his tone of voice.
6
I proceed to the center of the floor to stand at a small podium beside Bethany, who is undoubtedly her school’s reigning quiz bowl queen.
7
I feel as cool as a cucumber, running through the list of possible topics in my head—pop culture, animals, psychology, astronomy, technology—and knowing I am an expert on every one. There is just one area I skimmed over as I crammed dozens or even hundreds of facts and figures into my head over the last several months, but surely…
8
The moderator clears his throat and begins.
9
“Travis, you will go first. Your topic is…Greek mythology,” he says.
10
It can’t be! Instantly, I feel my face flush and my palms start to sweat.
11
“Which famous hero of the Trojan War died when Paris shot him in the heel with an arrow?”
12
I can’t say that I scrambled to find the right answer, because I had no clue. After my 10 seconds were up I heard Bethany confidently say “Achilles,” winning the entire competition for her team. She returned to her side of the stage, where she was given a champion’s welcome.
13
As for me, I was quickly forgiven by Jason, Katie, and the rest of the gang, but I don’t think the good-natured teasing about my Achilles’ heel is going to stop anytime soon.
Multiple Choice Question
The Quiz Bowl King uses the plot device of a trivia contest to convey its main message. Which event in The Myth of Achilles serves a similar purpose?
A.
Achilles' wearing a suit of armor
B.
Achilles' attack on the city of Troy
C.
Achilles revealing his interest in weapons
D.
Achilles spending his childhood on Scyros
1 answer
The correct answer is: D. Achilles spending his childhood on Scyros.
In The Myth of Achilles, Achilles' childhood on Scyros involves his disguise as a girl to avoid going to war, which serves to illustrate a key aspect of his character and foreshadows his eventual role in the Trojan War. This event is significant as it reveals his vulnerability and the concept of identity, much like the trivia contest in "The Quiz Bowl King" reveals the protagonist's own vulnerabilities in knowledge.
