Perseus and Medusa – A Hero’s Journey

Introduction Perseus is a young man with a big adventure. He is the son of Danae, a princess, and the great god Zeus. He grows up on the island of Seriphos with his mother. But one day, his life changes. The king of Seriphos, Polydectes, wants to marry Danae. Perseus does not like this. To send Perseus away, Polydectes gives him a very hard job. Perseus must find Medusa and bring her head. Medusa is a monster with snakes for hair. This is a dangerous mission, but Perseus is brave. Can he complete his task?

Perseus and His Mother Perseus is born in Argos, but he does not stay there. His grandfather, King Acrisius, is afraid. He hears a prophecy. The prophecy says that Danae’s son will kill him. So, Acrisius puts Danae and baby Perseus in a wooden box and throws them into the sea. But Zeus protects them. The box reaches an island called Seriphos. A fisherman, Dictys, finds them. He takes care of Danae and Perseus. Perseus grows up to be a strong young man.

The Mission from King Polydectes The king of Seriphos, Polydectes, falls in love with Danae. But Danae does not love him. Perseus does not trust the king. Polydectes wants to send Perseus away. He makes a plan. He asks Perseus to bring him the head of Medusa. Medusa is a Gorgon. She is a monster. If a person looks into her eyes, they turn to stone. This is a very dangerous mission. But Perseus is a hero. He accepts the challenge.

The Help of the Gods Perseus cannot fight Medusa alone. He needs help. The gods give him special things. Hermes gives him winged sandals. With these, he can fly. Athena gives him a shiny shield. This helps him look at Medusa without turning to stone. Hades gives him a magic helmet. When he wears it, he becomes invisible. With these gifts, Perseus is ready.

Fighting Medusa Perseus finds Medusa in a dark cave. She is sleeping. He does not look at her directly. He uses Athena’s shield like a mirror. He sees Medusa’s reflection. Then, he takes his sword and cuts off her head. He puts the head in a bag. Now, he must go back home.

Saving Andromeda On his way back, Perseus sees a girl. Her name is Andromeda. A sea monster wants to eat her. Perseus is brave. He takes out Medusa’s head. The monster looks at it and turns to stone. Andromeda is safe. She thanks Perseus. Later, they marry.

Back to Seriphos Perseus returns home. King Polydectes is surprised. He does not believe Perseus has Medusa’s head. Perseus shows the head to the king. Polydectes looks at it. He turns to stone! The people of Seriphos are happy. Danae is free. Perseus gives Medusa’s head to Athena. Then, he leaves with Andromeda. They have many adventures together.

Conclusion Perseus is a true hero. He is brave and kind. With the help of the gods, he completes his mission. He saves his mother. He saves Andromeda. He becomes a great man. The story of Perseus teaches us about courage and adventure. Do you like stories about heroes? Perseus’ journey is exciting and full of action!

Bill Bowler ELT teacher, trainer, author, and series editor 

Bill Bowler: A Visionary in ELT and Graded Readers

A Lifelong Commitment to English Language Teaching

Bill Bowler, a distinguished name in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT), has dedicated over four decades to teaching, training, writing, and editing English learning materials. Born in London and educated at Cambridge University, Bill’s passion for the English language led him to train as an ELT teacher at International House in London. Since then, his contributions to ELT have been vast, ranging from authoring acclaimed graded readers to mentoring teachers in over sixty countries.

The Art of Storytelling Meets ELT

In the year 2000, Bill Bowler took his deep appreciation for storytelling and merged it with his ELT expertise, venturing into the world of graded readers. His ability to craft engaging, accessible narratives for language learners has made him a highly respected figure in this domain. As a co-series editor of the widely recognized Dominoes graded readers series by Oxford University Press, Bill, alongside his wife Sue Parminter, played a pivotal role in shaping extensive reading materials for learners worldwide.

His own body of work is impressive, comprising over forty-five graded readers, with an additional ninety books edited under his guidance. These materials have not only enriched ELT resources but have also won multiple industry awards, attesting to their effectiveness in supporting language learners.

A Global Educator and Thought Leader

Beyond writing, Bill Bowler has been instrumental in training educators across the globe. With firsthand teaching experience in sixty countries, he has had a direct impact on countless ELT professionals. His insights into Extensive Reading (ER) have been featured in renowned journals such as English Teaching Professional, and he has authored several blog posts dedicated to promoting ER methodologies in classrooms.

His work in teacher training extends to collaborations on practical methodology books, including Bringing Extensive Reading into the Classroom (OUP), which serves as a valuable resource for educators looking to incorporate reading-based approaches into their teaching strategies.

Innovation in Digital Learning: Readable and Self-Published Works

As digital learning platforms continue to gain momentum, Bill Bowler has embraced innovation by contributing to Readable, a mobile reading app that provides audio-narrated graded stories from A1 to B2 CEFR levels. His role in writing and narrating these stories reflects his adaptability to modern teaching tools and his ongoing commitment to improving access to high-quality language learning materials.

Additionally, his most recent project, Retold by Bill Bowler, showcases his expertise in retelling classic stories for language learners. This self-published series, available as eBooks on Amazon, is designed to provide engaging adaptations of timeless literary works, further expanding the reach of his educational impact.

A Lasting Legacy in ELT

Bill Bowler’s contributions to ELT and Extensive Reading have made an enduring impact on language learners, educators, and publishing professionals worldwide. His dedication to storytelling, innovative approaches to teaching, and commitment to empowering educators have solidified his reputation as a leading figure in the field.

Whether through his graded readers, teacher training initiatives, or digital storytelling endeavors, Bill Bowler continues to inspire and shape the future of English Language Teaching, proving that the power of stories can be a transformative tool in education.