INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
The Travels of the Argo
(Genre: Myth)
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Common Core Progress.
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When Jason, child of Greece, was still a
babe, his uncle Pelias stole his birthright: the
throne of Iolcus. As a boy, Jason hid in the
mountains for safety, but when he turned
twenty he returned to Iolcus to demand his
kingdom. Thinking quickly, Pelias declared
that Jason must prove himself worthy of
assuming his throne by carrying out a single
task. Pelias told Jason that if he retrieved
the Golden Fleece from faraway Colchis, the
kingdom would be his. The Golden Fleece
was from a ram that had been a gift to one of
Jason’s ancestors. It was a gift from the king of
the gods himself, Zeus. It had since fallen into
the hands of the king of Colchis.
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Quickly, Jason gathered the bravest
and most adventurous men of the day to
accompany him aboard his sailing ship, the
Argo. Heroes, sailors, and hunters came forth
to join the voyage. Jason’s newly formed
troupe would travel to the ends of the known
world to capture the Golden Fleece.
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Now, the seas held many dangers, and
the Argonauts had few restful days on their
journey. Early on, after befriending a fierce
race of women, they overcame a land ruled by
giants with six arms. They continued onward,
and in due time, the Argo sailed past the great
city of Constantinople on the Sea of Marmara.
They entered the Straits of Bosphorus, a
channel connecting the Sea of Marmara to the
Black Sea, and encountered a pair of massive
rocks facing each other across the channel
and barring entry into the Black Sea. These
clashing rocks came together to crush any
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ship that moved between them. Fortunately,
Jason had previously done a good deed for
King Phineus of Thrace, and in return he had
been given the secret of the rocks.
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Soon enough, Jason arrived at the coastal
kingdom of Colchis. Approaching King
Aietes, he demanded the return of the Golden
Fleece. Oracles had foretold that King Aietes
would only retain his kingdom as long as he
possessed the fleece. With no real intention
of returning the fleece to Jason, Aietes
proposed to him that he might win it back by
completing a series of challenges.
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Jason must first yoke a fire-breathing team
of bulls. Once this feat was accomplished, he
must plough and sow a field with dragons’
teeth. Doing so would raise a band of
warriors, who would attempt to kill Jason.
If Jason survived, he would then have to
overcome a sleepless dragon that guarded the
Golden Fleece. Such seemingly impossible
labors made King Aietes confident that the
fleece would remain his forever. He did
not know, however, that his own daughter,
Medea, had fallen in love with the dashing
young hero. With Medea’s help, Jason
accomplished the tasks and seized the Golden
Fleece for his own. Jason and Medea then fled
to the Argo to begin their trip back to Iolcus.
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The journey home posed its own series of
adventures. Most famously, the Argo eluded
the Sirens, women whose lilting voices sang
such a seductive tune that sailors forgot
to steer their ships and instead dashed
Reading Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
The Travels of the Argo continued
their vessels upon the rocks. The Argo also
sailed safely by the island of Crete, which
was guarded by the stone-hurling bronze
giant Talos. In good time, the Argo sailed
triumphantly into the port of Iolcus. Jason
presented the Golden Fleece to Pelias and
claimed the throne for himself.
The Clashing Rocks
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Common Core Progress.
(Genre: One-Act Play)
CHARACTERS
rocks. Of all the ships that have sailed, and
failed, to get through, we alone will survive!
JASON, captain of the Argo
EUPHEMUS, a young Argonaut
NAUPLIUS, an experienced sailor
EUPHEMUS: Share with us, we beg of you!
JASON: We will loose a seabird to fly through
the strait first. The rocks will close upon the
bird, but as soon as they begin to open and
move apart again, we will row with all our
strength, as one mighty beast. With courage
and luck, we will pass through the strait
before the rocks have time to crash closed
upon us.
SETTING: On board the Argo, at sea
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JASON: Now we sail toward the end of the
Aegean Sea, and I fear what lies ahead of us
on our dangerous quest. Listen closely, for I
believe I hear the clash of the violent rocks!
NAUPLIUS: If that is truly what lies ahead, we
have no choice but to turn aside! Instead, we
must carry the mighty ship Argo across the land.
NAUPLIUS: Dare we must, and take this
chance to go forward!
EUPHEMUS: With my own eyes, I do spy the
clashing rocks ahead of us! The fierce rocks
smash one against the other, chewing up any
vessel that sails between them. Sail through
them and we will be pulverized.
NAUPLIUS: (shouting) Turn aside
immediately! I see the waves moving in
agitation and the sea spray foaming as the
rocks crash into one another.
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JASON: The rocks loom larger than any man
could imagine. But fear not and listen closely,
my sailors, for the wise king Phineus told me
the secret to safe passage through the clashing
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JASON: Here, Euphemus, take this seabird
and stand at the prow of the ship. At my call,
release the bird. Sailors, take up your oars
and at my signal, row with the strength of
the great god Zeus, for our lives depend on it.
Wait, wait, as I watch the wild sea ahead of
us. (nodding at Euphemus) Now, Euphemus,
release the seabird!
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(Euphemus throws the bird toward the passage
between the rocks. The rocks crash together and
then slowly begin to open again.)
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INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
The Clashing Rocks continued
EUPHEMUS: (shouting) I see the bird
has made safe passage and flies out the
other side!
alive! They strain to crash down upon us but
they are still opening up. Keep pulling, men,
and guide us to safety! Keep going, for we
are just a few strokes from being clear of the
rocks . . . there. . . . there. We are safe!
JASON: May we be granted the same! Row,
Argonauts, row for your very lives!
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NAUPLIUS: Row, men, as hard as you
know how!
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Common Core Progress.
JASON: (shouting) We are moving quickly
through the rocks. It is as if the rocks are
(A great cry of exultation arises from
the sailors.)
JASON: Well done, men, we are unscathed,
so is the Argo, and our adventure thus
continues!
Comprehension Check
1. Which version of “The Travels of the Argo”—a poem, a live play, a
movie, or an audio recording—do you think would be most successful in
portraying the journey of Jason and the Argonauts? Include details from
the text to support your answer.
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Reading Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
2A. Which of the following is a topic in both
“The Travels of the Argo” and “The
Clashing Rocks”?
a. overcoming great challenges
2B. What evidence supports the answer
to Part A?
a. Jason and his crew find their way
blocked by the clashing rocks.
b. gaining one’s birthright
b. Jason and his crew know that the
clashing rocks crush ships that pass
between them.
c. cooperating with strangers
d. satisfying one’s curiosity
c. Jason and his crew receive advice
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Common Core Progress.
about the clashing rocks from a king.
d. Jason and his crew pass safely
through the clashing rocks.
3. One theme of “The Travels of the Argo” is facing the unknown. Discuss
how this theme is supported in the story and if it is also found in “The
Clashing Rocks”. Give examples from both texts to support your answer.
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Reading Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS
4A. Read this sentence from paragraph 2 of
4B. What phrase from text supports the
“The Travels of the Argo.”
answer to Part A?
Heroes, sailors, and hunters came
forth to join the voyage. Jason’s newly
formed troupe would travel to the ends
of the known world to capture the
Golden Fleece.
a. “Heroes, sailors, and hunters”
b. “join the voyage”
c. “newly formed”
d. “to capture the Golden Fleece”
Copyright © by William H. Sadlier, Inc. Permission to duplicate classroom quantities granted to users of Common Core Progress.
What word relationship helps the reader
understand the meaning of troupe?
a. part to whole
b. item to category
c. cause to effect
d. None of the above.
5. Read these sentences from line 3 of “The Clashing Rocks.”
The fierce rocks smash one against the other, chewing up any vessel that
sails between them. Sail through them and we will be pulverized.
What word relationship helps the reader understand the meaning of
pulverized? Explain your answer.
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Reading Literature: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
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