Selfie with Socrates
Selfie Through Time
Okay, so picture this: I'm Cleo, and Iâm chilling in ancient Athensâlike, way back when, 400 BC-ish. Usually, I'm all about TikTok dances, but since time-travel isn't exactly equipped with Wi-Fi, I had to improvise on my visit.
Olives and Oracles
Mama needed olives, right? So, I'm strolling through the Agora, which is like their town square, dodging guys in tunics and trying not to step in anything gross. I pull out my phone because, hello, #AncientAesthetic selfie opportunity! The Acropolis was looking particularly majestic in the background. Click!
Then, BAM! This dude with a beard that could house a family of pigeons stops me. "Young one," he booms, "what is this strange device you wield?"
I sigh internally. Of course. Socrates. #PhilosopherProblems
The Socratic Selfie Interrogation
"It's a phone," I explain, trying to sidestep him. "I take pictures with it." #NoFilter
He raises an eyebrow so high, it almost disappears into his hairline. "Pictures? But what is a picture? Is it the true form of the object, or merely a shadow of its essence?"
Dude. I just wanted olives.
"Uh, it's like... a copy?" I offer, hoping thatâs vague enough. I just want to #getolives.
- Agora:
- A public open space used for assemblies and markets in ancient Greek cities.
- Socrates:
- A famous Greek philosopher known for his method of questioning.
- Acropolis:
- A citadel or fortified part of an ancient Greek city, typically built on a hill.
- Pixels:
- Tiny dots that make up an image on a digital screen.
- perception:
- The way someone notices, interprets, or understands things through the senses or the mind.
- fleeting:
- Lasting for only a very brief or quickly passing period of time.
- bewildered:
- Deeply puzzled, confused, or unsure of what is happening.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What was Cleo supposed to be doing in the Agora?
- 2Describe the first interaction Cleo had with Socrates.
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About this fiction passage for Middle School
âSelfie with Socratesâ is a fiction reading passage about Ancient Greece, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (433 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.