A Walk with Socrates in the Agora
Characters:
Lico: A curious young student in Athens.
Socrates: A famous philosopher who enjoys asking questions.
Lico: (Walking through the market of Athens) What a hot day! There are so many people in the Agora today. Look! There is that man everyone is talking about. He is always surrounded by young people. It is Socrates! I wonder if he is really as strange as they say. I will get a little closer to hear what he says.
Socrates: (Looking at Lico with a kind smile) Hello, little citizen. You seem very interested in my feet, or maybe in the dust my sandals are kicking up. Are you looking for something on the ground, or are you looking for an answer to an important question?
Lico: (Surprised and a bit embarrassed) Oh! I am very sorry, Mr. Socrates. I did not want to bother you. It is just that my teacher at school says you are the wisest man in all of Greece. I just wanted to see what wisdom looks like in person.
Socrates: (Chuckles softly) What does wisdom look like? What a fascinating question! Tell me, Lico, do you think wisdom has a color, or perhaps a round, shiny shape like a ripe orange?
- Agora:
- A public open space used for assemblies and markets in ancient Greece.
- Philosopher:
- A person who seeks wisdom or enlightenment; literally a 'lover of wisdom'.
- Wisdom:
- The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
- Justice:
- The concept of moral rightness based on ethics, law, or fairness.
- Purpose:
- The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Where does the conversation between Lico and Socrates take place?
- 2Why was Lico watching Socrates at the beginning of the story?
Where this passage belongs
About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“A Walk with Socrates in the Agora” is a reader's theater reading passage about Greek Philosophy, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 6 minutes to read (841 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.