stories which explain how the world began and what the world is like and why

being modest, humble, the opposite of hubristic

to be filled with the desire and motivation to do something

a lesson, often about how to behave, taught through a story

Bruegel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus: how the myth inspired the painting

English

In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils explore how they can alter traditional stories to convey modern ideas and morals. In 'Animal Farm: the Pigs and Power', pupils learn about Orwell's allegory and understand how he uses an apparently simple fairy story to convey a political message. 

In 'Step Into the Unknown', pupils look at the ways in which famous children's writers create convincing settings, particularly through descriptions of windows and doors. In 'Myths and Legends Re-Told', pupils take inspiration from the ways in which writers and poets use powerful imagery and symbolism, to inspire their own writing. 

In this unit, pupils read and explore a range of text types in connection to classical myths and legends. They first look at poetry before doing some descriptive writing inspired by poetry and paintings. They then explore Chaucer and modern retellings of myths to inspire their narrative writing.

Myths, legends and stories that inspire

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

a man who escapes a labyrinth created by Daedalus 

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', one of the myths is called 'The Fall of Icarus'. Match the most important characters from this myth to what we know about them.

King Minos imprisons Daedalus and Icarus.

Daedalus creates wings from wax and feathers so they can fly away.

Daedalus tells his son not to fly too close to the sun.

Icarus flies higher and higher, enjoying the feeling of flying.

The wax begins to melt as Icarus flies close to the sun.

Daedalus offers his wings to the god, Apollo, and swears never to fly again.

Starting with the first, put these plot points from the myth 'the Fall of Icarus' ('Myths, legends and stories that inspire') in chronological order.

In 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we read the myth called 'The Fall of Icarus'. This myth is designed to teach us about the dangers of hubris. What does it mean to be full of hubris?

In 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting called 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus'. The most important figures are shepherds and workers. What word best describes them?

Found in many cultures, {{ }} are stories which explain how the world began and what the world is like and why. 

In 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we look at a painting entitled '{{ }} with the Fall of Icarus', a painting inspired by a Greek myth.

to copy someone else's work but put it in a different format

to mimic someone else's work and referring to them throughout

to be motivated to create something after experiencing someone else's work

to compare your work to someone else's and explain the differences

Creative people – writers, painters, sculptors etc. – are often inspired by other pieces of art they have read, seen, listened to or heard of. What does it mean to be inspired?

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we are going to read a story in which Greece, Athens and Crete are important locations. Match each place to a fact about it.

a truthful account of the history of a nation

a story often explaining what the world is like and why

In 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we explore a story called the Fall of Icarus, a famous Greek myth. What is a myth?

stories which explain how the world began and what the world is like

a story about humans, often seeming historical but still fictitious

a piece of writing written in stanzas and with a close focus on rhythm

a visual art in which colour and brushes are used to convey meaning

In the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire', we will look at a range of different stories. There are so many different ways to tells stories. Match each text type to its definition.

a lesson taught through the act of story-telling

a piece of non-fiction giving instructions

Some texts you will read in the unit 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire' will include morals. What is a moral?

It is the time of ancient Greek civilisation.

Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne in Britain.

Some of the stories in 'Myths, legends and stories that inspire' inspire artwork. For example, Pieter Bruegel painted a picture in around 1558 inspired by a myth. What is true of the year 1558?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Bruegel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus: how the myth inspired the painting

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.