Achilles is a well-known hero in Greek mythology. This brave warrior fought in the Trojan War. The following myth is where the phrase “Achilles’ heel” comes from.
1
Achilles was the son of Peleus and the sea goddess Thetis. When Achilles was still a baby, Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx. Her actions made Achilles’ body completely invulnerable to harm with one exception: his right heel. This was what Thetis held on to as she dipped him into the flowing water.
2
When Achilles was still a young boy, Thetis was told that her son would either have a long but inglorious life of comfort and inactivity, or would have a short but heroic career, soon after which his life would end.
3
Thetis naturally hoped to prolong the life of Achilles, and made the decision to send him away to the island of Scyros, where he was raised as a girl to conceal his true identity.
4
Achilles could not remain in hiding forever, though. When it was predicted that it would be impossible to capture Troy without the assistance of Achilles, the hero Odysseus was sent to Scyros to find Achilles. Faced with the task of determining which of the “females” he encountered in the royal palace was actually Achilles in disguise, Odysseus presented a set of weapons to the group. Achilles could not conceal his excitement when he saw the weapons. He seized them and revealed his identity, after which he joined the Greeks in their fight against the Trojans.
5
The war was lengthy. Many battles were fought, and many warriors were lost. Achilles donned a magnificent suit of armor and led the Greeks in their struggle against the enemy, himself defeating numerous powerful foes.
6
On the last day of his life, Achilles faced off against Memnon, ally of the Trojans. Conquering this enemy gave Achilles the confidence to attempt to storm the city of Troy, but this act would prove to be his downfall. A warrior named Paris shot an arrow at Achilles, which pierced his right heel, the sole part of his body that had not been bathed in the protective waters of the river Styx.
7
Achilles dropped to the ground and died of his wound. Thetis came to embrace her gallant son and wept bitterly over the loss, joining the entire Greek army in their sorrow over the fallen hero.
Multiple Choice Question
Which sentence describes how a character in The Myth of Achilles helps to develop a central idea of the text?
A.
Thetis’s actions help to develop the idea that it is not always possible to protect loved ones.
B.
Odysseus’s actions help to develop the idea that sometimes people do not see the obvious.
C.
Memnon’s actions help to develop the idea that pride can be the cause of someone’s downfall.
D.
Paris’s actions help to develop the idea that Achilles was a brave warrior though his life was cut short.
1 answer
The correct answer is:
A. Thetis’s actions help to develop the idea that it is not always possible to protect loved ones.
This sentence reflects the central theme of the text regarding Thetis's attempt to make Achilles invulnerable and the ultimate realization that despite her efforts, he still had a vulnerability that led to his demise.
