Text Leveling System

Favorite Greek Myths

RDQ:	2178	Max Word/Sent	34	Total Words	3045		Diff Words	912
Lex	930	Ave Word/.Sent	11	Hi Freq occurs	2095	68.8%	Hi freq	360	39.5%
AR	5.2	Long Sentences	16.5	Low Freq occurs	230	7.6%	Low freq	154	16.9%

Phaeton entered the gleaming palace of the Sun God and walked to the throne room. He stopped in the doorway, blinded by the radiance of Helio's, the Sun God, who wore a purple robe and set high on a throne of emeralds. Around Helio's stood his attendants, whose names were day, month, year, century, hours, spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

"Come to me, my boy," said Helios, the Sun God.
Phaeton stepped forward and bowed his head to shield his eyes from the sun's awesome brightness. Then he kneeled before the throne.
"What brings you to seek your father?" Helios asked gently.
"I came to get your promise that I am really your son," Phaeton answered. The boys at school laugh at me and say I'm not, but my mother has always said my father is the sun.
clymene is right, said Helios. The nymph  clymene had a child by me, and it was you. To prove I am your father, I'll give you anything you ask. I swear it by Styx, the river of oaths.
Father, I have only one wish. I want to do what you do early each morning. I want to drive your fiery chariot alone across the sky and turn night into day.
Oh no! I can't allow you to do that! Cried Helios.
But you promised-
I spoke to rashly! Please, may the gods allow me to take back my promise!
It's too late father! Said Phaeton. But this is the one wish I cannot grant, my son! The trip is too dangerous. Even Jupiter greatest of all God's cannot drive my winged horses! They're hot with fire!
I can drive them, father. If I'm really your son.
No! You can't! How can you fight the spin of the world? How can you fight the wild beasts and the terrible monsters?
But Phaeton only smiled at Helios. I know I can do what you do, father, he said.
The Sun God tried to stall for time, but the goddess Dawn was coming quickly upon the palace, getting ready to throw open her crimson doors and to shine forth. The moons thin crescent had vanished from sight; the stars had taken flight. It was time for Helios fiery chariot to begin its daily course across the sky.
Helios and Phaeton stepped out into the cool air where the chariot waited. The gleaming cart had tires of gold and spokes of silver, and every jewel imaginable sparkled and the rosy light of the early morning.
As Phaeton walked around the golden chariot, marveling at its beauty, his father tried to think of ways to stop him from taking the terrible journey across the sky.
But when birds began singing, Phaeton cried, I must leave now, father! And he jumped into the shining chariot.
The four winged horses stamped their hooves and breathed fire from their nostrils as to goddesses, both named hours, fastened their jingling harnesses.
The Sun God rubbed a magic salve on Phaeton 's face to shield him from the heat. He set his crown of flashing sunbeams on the boys head. Then he looked at his son and sighed. Keep to the middle path. Do not veer off to the side! Neither get too high nor too low, or the sky and earth meet equal heat. If you're too high, you'll burn the sky, and if you're too low, you'll burn the earth all right, father! Cried Phaeton as he held the reins proudly, and the horses made and pawed the ground.
Follow the wheel tracks of my daily path! Cried Helios. Spare the whip and hold the reins tightly!
I will, father! I will!
And beware of the northern bear and the twisting snake in the sky before the Sun God could say more, Phaeton snapped the reins. It's time, father! He said. Days calling! Night is gone!
Suddenly the four horses leapt forward into the boundless sky.
Don't go, my son! Shouted Helios. Let me give the world like today!
But Phaeton couldn't hear his father. The Swift hooves of his horses ripped open the clouds. Then the winged steeds soared higher and higher into the sky.
The chariot was so light, it tossed back and forth like a ship in stormy waves. The horses grew frightened and galloped faster until they were more Swift than the East wind. Phaeton pulled hard on the reins, but he couldn't slow his horses down. He looked around wildly, but he couldn't see the wheel tracks the horses had left their worn path! As he wheeled off course, Phaeton sunbeams warmed the constellations: this snake stirred from its icy numbness. The great bear woke in a rage and began lumbering about the heavens.
Phaeton looked below, and when he realized how far away the earth was he became sick with fright. He called in panic for his father's help. He yelled for his horses to stop, but the horses galloped out of control. They swept past more savage beasts in the sky  past the giant scorpion that sweated black venom as its curved Stinger reached out toward the fiery chariot.
Phaeton dropped the reins, and the horses bounded into regions they had never traveled before. They crashed into stars. All of heaven cried out in terror as the fiery chariot careened off course. The moon, the skies, and the earth of all caught fire. Flames spread across mountaintops and burned the snow, spilling black smoke into the clouds. Even Mount Olympus, home of the gods, was besieged with fire.
Then Satan saw the earth said aflame. Everything glowed white hot. The deserts, woodland pools, and springs. Everyone on earth was trying to escape the great fire. The gods of the underworld and even the sea nymphs in their deep ocean caves felt the searing heat.
Mother Earth shielded her hot for head and shuddered in agony. Burdened with flame, she cried out to Jupiter, the greatest of the gods: hurl your lightning bolts now and and this fiery death caused by Phaeton! Then she could speak no longer for the smoke and flames were choking her.
Jupiter, hypnotized by the sight of flames licking the world, roused himself when he saw mother Earth dying. He rolled his thunder, then lifted a giant bolt of lightning behind his head and flung it through the sky. The bolt struck the Sun chariot, breaking its wheels and spokes and fire extinguished fire, flame put out flame, and mad horses leapt free of their harnesses as Phaeton fell from the sky.
Phaeton's hair was on fire as he fell. Leaving behind a trail of sparks, he looked like a falling star. Far from home, half a world away from his mother, he fell into a river.
The River God held Phaeton's poor smoldering body and bathed his burning face. Then the water nymphs buried Phaeton: and on his tomb, they wrote
here lies Phaeton who tried to be the son. Greatly he failed, but greatly he dared.
For a whole day the Sun God mourned his son. He refused to drive his chariot and the men and women on earth had to burn fires to gain light and warmth.
When Jupiter went to see the Sun God, he found him sitting on his Emerald throne with his head bowed, not moving as he sat in mourning. Jupiter bid Helios to look up and answer to him for not driving his golden chariot.
But Helios cursed the God of the skies for throwing his thunderbolt and killing Phaeton.
I had no choice! Said mighty Jupiter. The boy's ambition nearly ended the world. Mother Earth was burning and dying. But now she is too cold, Helios. She needs your heat, or she will die from freezing.
The Sun God bowed his head further. Rise Helios! Roared Jupiter. Stop blaming me for your son's death! You have work to do! The world is waiting for you!
The Sun God heaved a great sigh, then slowly rose from his throne. Trembling with sorrow, he strode out of his palace.
The four winged horses who had leapt free from Phaeton were snuffling in the cool early air, stamping their hooves as Dawn opened her crimson doors.
The Sun God stepped into the gleaming golden chariot. He put on his crown of flashing sunbeams the same crown Phaeton had worn. Then the two goddesses of hours yoked the four winged horses with jingling harnesses. And as the weeping Sun God grabbed the reins tightly and snapped them, they bolted into the boundless, blue, sunlit sky.
The Golden touch
the story of Bacchus and King Midas
Bacchus the merry God of the vine, raised his goblet. To you, King Midas, he said, and because you have been so hospitable to me ask for anything you wish, and I will grant it to you.
What an idea! Said Midas. Anything I wish?
Indeed, anything, said Bacchus.
Anything?
Yes! Yes!
Ah, well, said the King, chuckling. Of course, there's only one thing: I wish that everything I touch would turn to gold! Midas looked sideways at Bacchus, for he couldn't believe such a gift could really be his.
My friend, you already have all the gold you could possibly want, said Bacchus, looking disappointed.
Oh, no! I don't! Said Midas. One never has enough gold!
Well, if that's what you wish for, I suppose I will have to grant it, said Bacchus.
Bacchus soon took his leave. As Midas waved goodbye to him, his hand brushed and Oak twig hanging from a tree and the twig turned to gold.
The King screamed with joy, then shouted after Bacchus, my wish has come true! Thank you! Thank you!
The God turned and waved, then disappear down the road.
Midas looked around excitedly. He leaned over and picked up a stone from the ground and the stone turned into a gold nugget! He kicked the sand and the sand turned to golden grains!
King Midas threw back his head and shouted, I'm the richest man in the world! Then he rushed about his grounds, touching everything. And everything, everything turned to gold: ears of corn in his fields! Apples plucked from trees! The pillars of his mansion!
When the king's servants heard him shouting, they rushed to see what was happening. They found their King dancing wildly on his lawn, turning the grass to glittering blades of gold. Everyone laughed and clapped as Midas washed his hands in the fountain and turned the water to a gleaming spray!
Finally, exhausted but overjoyed, King Midas called for his dinner. His servants placed a huge banquet meal before him on his lawn. Oh, I'm so hungry! He said as he speared a piece of meat and brought it to his mouth.
But suddenly King Midas realized his wish may not have been as wonderful as he thought for the moment he bit down on the meet, it, too, turned to gold.
Midas laughed uneasily, then reached for piece of bread. But as soon as his hands touched the bread, it also became a hard, Golden nugget! We could was dread, Midas reached for his goblet of water. But alas! His lips touched only hard, cold metal. The water had also turned to gold.
Covering his head and moaning, King Midas realized his great wish was going to kill him. He would starve to death or die of thirst! Bacchus! He cried, throwing his hands toward heaven. I've been a greedy fool! Take away your gift! Free me from my Golden touch! Help me, Bacchus!
The sobbing King fell off his chair to his knees. He beat his fists against the ground, turning even the little anthills to gold. His sermons grieved for him, but none dared go near him, for they feared he might accidentally turned them to gold, too!
As everyone wailed with sorrow, Bacchus suddenly appeared on the palace lawn. The merry God stood before the sobbing King for a moment, and then said, rise, Midas.
Stumbling to his feet, King Midas begged Bacchus to forgive him and take away the curse of the Golden touch.
You were greedy and foolish, my friend, said Bacchus. But I will forgive you. Now go and wash yourself in the pactolus River that runs by Sardis, and you will be cleansed of this desire to have more gold than anyone else!
King Midas did as Bacchus said. He washed in the pactolus, leaving behind streams of gold in the rivers sand. Then he returned home and happily ate his dinner.
Lost at sea
the story of ceyx and Alcyone
King ceyx, son of the morning Star, walked along the shore with his wife, Alcyone, daughter of the King of the winds.
I must leave in a few days on a long sea voyage and travel to the Oracle of Delphi, king ceyx told his wife. But I promise I will be gone for no more than two months.
Alcyone turned pale. She knew the rough winds in the open sea were very dangerous. My father, Aeolus, rules the winds I know what force he can unleash in a bad storm. I beg you, if you love me, don't go!
King ceyx assured Alcyone of his love for her and promised to return soon, but she would not be consoled. A few days later, when he stood in the stern of the ship and waved goodbye, she flung herself down on the sands and wept bitterly. Then she dragged herself home and began her long wait for her husband's return.
One night as King ceyx's ship sailed upon the open sea, the waves began rising. Pull up your oars! Lower the sales! The captain shouted.
But the man could not hear him, for the winds had begun to howl, and thunder rumbled in the sky. Ocean Spray leapt for the stars, as lightning lit the night. Then the sea turned yellow, and the heavens poured water and great torrents, as waves crashed in on the Kings ship
ceyx's last thoughts were of Alcyone. He cried to the gods, wash my body to my wife over the sea! And he called her name again and again, until a great arc of water took him down to the dark depths of the ocean. And then there was no more lightning and no more starlight: everything was pitch black.
The Morning Star did not shine the next day, but hid behind the clouds, grieving for his drowned son.
Alcyone Was counting the days until ceyx returned. She wove a beautiful robe for him and address for herself to wear when he came home. Every day she burned incense and prayed to Juneau, the goddess who protects married women, asking her to bring her husband home safely.
Hearing Alcyone is prayer, Juneau felt pity. Finally she summoned her messenger, Iris, the rainbow goddess. She instructed Iris to travel to the God sleep and asked sleep to send Alcyone a dream, telling her that her husband had drowned at sea.
Iris took off at once, trailing her thousand colors across the sky, until she touched down upon the twilight lands of the crimmerian country. There the God sleep lived in the hollow of a mountain. When Iris arrived at sleeps caved, she heard no birds singing or dogs barking or geese cackling. Only the river, Lethe, whispered sleepily in the twilight as Iris stepped past Poppy beds and entered sleep's cave.
The rainbow goddess pushed aside the empty dreams in her way, then came up on sleep, snoring in a great ebony bed. Iris awakened the slumbering God and bid him send a dream to Alcyone. After sleep agreed, Iris soared back to Mount Olympus, trailing her rainbow colors across the sky.
Sleep roused Morpheus, one of his thousand sons, the one who could best imitate humans. He instructed Morpheus to fly to Alcyone. Then the God returned to his bed, letting his drowsy head sink down again into the land of dreams.
On silent wings, Morpheus took off through the twilight. When he finally came to the home of Alcyone, he assumed the face and body of King ceyx. He slipped into Alcyone's chamber and stood before her bed.
Ceyx's ghostly beard dripped the seawater, as he bent over his sleeping wife and whispered, oh, my love, do you see me? Have I changed in death? Cherish no hope for my return. My ship went down in a storm far out at sea, and I died, calling your name. Arise now and weep for me.
In her sleep, Alcyone wept and tried to take her husband into her arms, but it was no use. She clutched the air and cried out for him, but her own voice woke her. Alcyone realized she'd been dreaming, but hearing her dream might have been the truth, she wept until dawn.
When light crept into her bedroom chamber, Alcyone rose and slipped down to the shore, to the place where she had last seen ceyx, standing in the stern of his boat, waving to her.
As she stared at the sea, Alcyone spotted something floating on the water. She stepped closer and saw a man's body on top of the waves. Oh, poor sailor, she said, and poor wife, if you're married.
When the waves washed the body closer to the shore, Alcyone saw it was her husband. She cried out, oh, my love! Why have you come back to me this way? Then she rushed into the sea. And though the waves broke against her, she did not go under. Instead, she began beating the water with giant wings. Then, crying out like a bird, she rose into the air and flew over the sea to Ceyx's lifeless body. When she touched her husband's cold lips with her beak, he also became a bird, and the two of them were together again.
Since that time, every year, for seven days before the winter solstice, the waves are quiet, and the water is perfectly calm. The days are called halycon days, for during them, the King of the wins keeps the wind at home  because his daughter Alcyone, is brooding on her nest upon the sea.

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Little support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Dialog: Broken dialogue

Dialog: Unlabeled Speaker

Vocabulary: Many difficult words

Language: Colorful, figurative

Sentences: Some Long/Complex

Text structure: Story/Poem

Inferences: Several Implications

Complexity: Several unrelated ideas

Concept: Fanciful

Chapters

Headings

Features

Integral Setting - Cultural/Regional

Symbolism

Mood/tone

Personification

Difficult names

Unusual use of vocabulary

Topic

Wishes

Challenges

Magic

Ghosts

Good/Evil

Kings/Queens

*Fictional Ideas/Charac

Low Frequency Words

accidentally	aeolus	aflame	agony	alas
alcyone	alcyone's	ambition	arise	assumed
assured	attendants	awakened	banquet	besieged
blaming	boundless	breathed	brooding	burdened
careened	ceyx	ceyx's	chariot	cleansed
constellations	crescent	crimmerian	crimson	curse
cursed	curved	delphi	depths	disappointed
dread	drowned	ebony	emerald	emeralds
excitedly	exhausted	extinguished	fastened	fiery
flung	further	ghostly	goblet	goddess
goddesses	grant	greatly	grieved	grieving
halycon	harnesses	heaved	helios	hollow
hooves	hospitable	hurl	hypnotized	imaginable
instructed	jewel	jingling	juneau	kneeled
leapt	lethe	lumbering	mansion	marveling
messenger	morpheus	mount	mountaintops	mourned
mourning	northern	nostrils	nugget	nymph
nymphs	oaths	olympus	overjoyed	pactolus
panic	pawed	phaeton	phaeton's	pillars
plucked	prove	radiance	rashly	refused
regions	reins	rosy	rough	roused
sailor	satan	savage	scorpion	searing
seawater	sermons	servants	shield	shielded
sideways	skies	sleepily	slumbering	smoldering
snuffling	soared	solstice	sorrow	speared
spilling	stall	stamping	starlight	stern
stinger	stirred	strode	styx	summoned
sunbeams	swear	sweated	swept	terror
thunderbolt	tomb	torrents	twilight	underworld
uneasily	unleash	veer	venom	voyage
warmth	wheeled	winged	woodland	yoked