Question

in part one of \cruel tribute,\ how do king aegeuss actions affect the advancement of the plot?

he causes ariadne to fall in love with theseus.
he causes theseus to become the new king.
he causes the birth of a hero in troezen.
he causes king minos to become angry.

Explanation:

Analyze the question and context

The question asks: "In part one of 'Cruel Tribute,' how do King Aegeus's actions affect the advancement of the plot?"
We need to examine the narrative events of "Cruel Tribute" (the story of Theseus and the Minotaur). In Part I, "The Treaty," King Aegeus of Athens is involved in a conflict with King Minos of Crete. After Minos's son is killed in Attica, Minos wages a devastating war against Athens. To save his city from destruction, King Aegeus agrees to a terrible treaty: every nine years, Athens must send seven youths and seven maidens to Crete to be devoured by the Minotaur. This action directly causes King Minos to become angry initially, leading to the war and the subsequent tribute, which sets the entire conflict of the myth in motion.

Evaluate the options

Let's look at the options provided:

1. "He causes Ariadne to fall in love with Theseus." (This happens much later in Crete, primarily due to Theseus's own appearance and actions, not Aegeus's direct actions in Part I).
2. "He causes Theseus to become the new king." (Theseus becomes king much later in the story after Aegeus leaps into the sea, which is at the end of the myth, not Part I).
3. "He causes the birth of a hero in Troezen." (While Aegeus is Theseus's father, the immediate plot advancement in Part I of "Cruel Tribute" focuses on the conflict with Crete and the tribute).
4. "He causes King Minos to become angry." (Aegeus's actions—specifically the circumstances surrounding the death of Minos's son Androgeos while visiting Athens—directly cause King Minos's rage, leading to the war and the cruel treaty of the tribute).

Connect to plot structure

Using our understanding of Plot Structure and Rising Action, the inciting incident that drives the narrative forward is the anger of King Minos. King Aegeus's failure to protect Minos's son (or his role in Androgeos's death) serves as the catalyst. This action directly causes King Minos to become angry, wage war, and demand the tribute, which establishes the central conflict that Theseus must later resolve.

Answer:

• (A) He causes Ariadne to fall in love with Theseus.
• (B) He causes Theseus to become the new king.
• (C) He causes the birth of a hero in Troezen.
• (D) He causes King Minos to become angry. (Correct answer)