Wisdom Over War: The Clash of Athena and Ares
Ares: (Loudly, his voice booming over the sound of clashing metal) More! More blood and more thunder! Let the plains of Troy drink their fill! I do not care who falls—Achaean or Trojan—as long as the screams of the dying reach the heavens. This is the glory of war, the pure, unbridled chaos of the slaughter!
Soldier: (Cowering and frantic) The god is mad! Ares stalks the field like a hungry lion, striking down anyone in his path! Look at him—his armor is stained crimson, and his eyes glow with the fire of a thousand burning cities. We are but ants beneath his boots. How can we survive when the very personification of violence fights against us?
Diomedes: (Grimly, clutching a notched sword) Stand your ground, soldier! We cannot outrun a god, but we will not die like cowards. My arm grows weary, and my shield is heavy with the weight of spent spears, but my heart still beats for Argos. If this is where my thread is cut, let it be cut while I am facing forward.
- Unbridled:
- Uncontrolled or unrestrained.
- Infantry:
- Soldiers who fight on foot rather than on horses or in vehicles.
- Girdle:
- A belt or cord worn around the waist to secure clothing or armor.
- Strategic:
- Relating to a long-term plan or a carefully thought-out method to achieve a goal.
- Fray:
- A noisy fight or a period of intense activity and competition.
- personification:
- A person or thing that represents an abstract quality or idea in human form.
- novice:
- A person who is inexperienced or brand new to a particular activity or skill.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1According to Ares, what defines the 'glory of war'?
- 2How does the soldier describe the physical presence of Ares on the battlefield?
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About this reader's theater passage for Middle School
“Wisdom Over War: The Clash of Athena and Ares” is a reader's theater reading passage about Greek Mythology, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (917 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.