Question

the myth of daedalus and icarus by ovid
8 a.d.

discussion questions

1. what is the authors likely purpose for including the detail of daedalus crying in paragraph 2?
2. explain how the author foreshadows the fall of icarus throughout the story. cite evidence from the text in your response (in quotation marks)
3. why is this tale considered a tragedy? cite evidence from the text in your answer.
4. is \the myth of daedalus and icarus\ a tragedy of icarus, or of daedalus? consider what each character loses in this story as you form your answer. cite evidence from this text in your answer.

Explanation:

Analyze Daedalus crying in paragraph 2

To understand the author's purpose, we look at Character Development. Daedalus is a brilliant inventor, but crying humanizes him. It emphasizes his paternal love, vulnerability, and the heavy emotional burden of their escape, showing he is not just a cold craftsman.

Identify foreshadowing of Icarus's fall

Using Literary Analysis, we trace foreshadowing. Before they fly, Daedalus warns Icarus to fly a middle course: "if you fly too low, the water will weigh down your wings, and if you fly too high, the fire will burn them." Additionally, as Daedalus fastens the wings to his son, "his hands trembled" and "tears fell down his cheeks," signaling impending doom.

Define why the tale is a tragedy

Through Thematic Interpretation, a classical tragedy involves a high-status protagonist who suffers a major downfall due to a tragic flaw (hubris). Icarus's hubris leads him to ignore his father's warnings, fly too close to the sun, melt his wings, and plunge to his death: "the heat of the sun softened the fragrant wax... the boy fell into the blue sea."

Compare the tragedy of Icarus vs. Daedalus

This question explores deeper Character Development. For Icarus, it is a tragedy of lost life and youthful hubris. For Daedalus, it is a tragedy of surviving to bear the ultimate grief of losing his child due to his own creation: "the unhappy father, no longer a father, called out, 'Icarus, Icarus, where are you?'"

Answer:

Question 1

The author's likely purpose for including the detail of Daedalus crying is to humanize the brilliant inventor, emphasizing his deep paternal love, anxiety, and vulnerability, which contrasts with his cold, mechanical genius.

Question 2

The author foreshadows the fall of Icarus through Daedalus's explicit warnings and physical reactions. Daedalus warns him, "if you fly too high, the fire will burn them," and as he fits the wings, "his hands trembled" and "tears fell down his cheeks," signaling the danger ahead.

Question 3

The tale is considered a tragedy because it depicts a catastrophic downfall resulting from hubris (excessive pride). Icarus ignores his father's moderate path, flies too close to the sun, and perishes: "the heat of the sun softened the fragrant wax... the boy fell into the blue sea."

Question 4

The story is a tragedy for both, but arguably more profound for Daedalus. While Icarus loses his life, Daedalus loses his only son to his own invention, living with eternal grief: "the unhappy father, no longer a father, called out, 'Icarus, Icarus, where are you?'"