4.3 Activities at Home: Theseus and the Minotaur Skit/Puppet Show

Materials
Instructions
  • paper bags
  • markers/crayons
  • glue/tape
  • yarn
  • construction paper
  • scissors
  • Theseus and Minotaur Script

Below is a script for Theseus and the Minotaur with 5 characters: Theseus, King Minos, King Aegeus, Ariadne, and the Minotaur.

Divide students into groups of 3-5 and distribute materials. (This can also be done individually.)

Paper bags make easy puppets, and they should create each of the 5 characters using a paper bag. They could use construction paper or yarn for the hair. Then, students can rehearse and prepare to perform the skit.

King Minos: My name is Minos. Mihi nomen est Minos. I am the King of Crete. Ego sum rex Cretae.

Ariadne: My name is Ariadne. Mihi nomen est Ariadne. King Minos is my father. Rex Minos est mihi pater. I live in Crete. Ego habito in Creta. I have no friends here and I am very lonely.

King Aegeus: My name is Aegeus. Mihi nomen est Aegeus. I am the King of Athens. Ego sum rex Athenarum. Athens is across the sea from Crete.

Theseus: My name is Theseus. Mihi nomen est Theseus. King Aegeus is my father. Mihi pater est rex Aegeus. I live in Athens. Ego habito Athenis.

Minotaur: My name is Minotaur. Mihi nomen est Minotaurus. I am a minotaur. Ego sum minotaurus. My father is a bull. Mihi pater est taurus. I am part bull and part man. I live in a labyrinth. Ego habito in labyrintho. I have no friends in my labyrinth and I am very lonely. Everyone is afraid of me. Omnes timent me.

Ariadne: I am afraid of the Minotaur. Ego timeo Minotaurum.

Minos: I am afraid of the Minotaur. Ego timeo Minotaurum.

Aegeus: I am afraid of the Minotaur. Ego timeo Minotaurum.

Theseus: I am not afraid of the Minotaur. Ego non timeo Minotaurum.

Everyone except Theseus: What? You are not afraid? Tu non times?

Theseus: No! I will sail from Athens to Crete to conquer the Minotaur. Ego vinco Minotaurum.

Ariadne: Conquer the minotaur! Vince Minotaurum!

King Aegeus: Do not fight the Minotaur! Noli pugnare in Minotaurum! Flee the Minotaur! Fuge Minotaurum! The Minotaur is very dangerous and he is hidden in the middle of a giant labyrinth. Even if you manage to kill him, you will never find your way out of the maze! Do not fight the Minotaur! Noli pugnare in Minotaurum!

Theseus: Sorry, father. I have to fight the Minotaur. I will save everyone from the Minotaur.

King Minos: How? Quomodo?

Theseus: I don’t know how yet, but I will figure it out.

Minotaur: Who? Quis?

Theseus: Yes, you. Get ready to fight! Para pugnare!

Ariadne: Wait! Mane!

Theseus: What? Quid?

Ariadne: I have a plan. Take this ball of string and this sword. Cape lineam et gladium. Tie the string to a tree at the beginning of the Labyrinth and unroll it as you find your way through the labyrinth. You know what to do with the sword! Conquer the minotaur! Vince Minotaurum!

Theseus: Thanks! Gratias!

Theseus finds and fights the Minotaur. Theseus wins the fight and finds his way back to Ariadne.

Ariadne: You did it! Well done! Bene! Wonderful! Mirabile!

Theseus: Yes. Thank you for the string and sword. Gratias pro linea et gladio. Now time to sail home to see my father.

Ariadne: Bring me with you! Fer me tecum!

Theseus: Ok. Let’s go! Eamus!