Text Leveling System

Hercules

RDQ:	2039	Max Word/Sent	32	Total Words	2755		Diff Words	863
Lex	910	Ave Word/.Sent	8	Hi Freq occurs	1882	68.3%	Hi freq	353	40.9%
AR	5.0	Long Sentences	4	Low Freq occurs	188	6.8%	Low freq	119	13.8%

FLASH-FORWARD
Aphrodite lifted her skirt so she could run faster. She was bursting with great news for the gods of Mount Olympus.
"Zeus! Hera! Athena!" she screamed excitedly. "He's coming! He's coming!"
"Are you sure?" asked Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
Aphrodite nodded. "Look at that light in the distance..."
MANY YEARS BEFORE
The princess Alcmene was looking out the window of the palace and watched the city of Thebes lying at her feet. The streets were swarming with people hurrying toward their homes. Mothers held children by the hand, and looked at the sky with fear. A storm was coming. A rough wind blew in from the sea and heavy clouds darkened the late autumn day.
Alcmene leaned over the windowsill and looked toward the plain. Her husband was due to arrive any minute, but the road that ran along the wall was deserted. No sights or sounds hinted at the arrival of the commander
Amphitryon and his army. No messenger announced their arrival. A flash of lightning ripped the velvet gray sky. Alcmene was startled and jumped to her feet. At that moment, her door swung open and slammed against the wall.
"Who? What?" Alcmene stammered, terrified. Her husband Amphitryon, had appeared in the doorway.
"It's your husband!" he exclaimed, rushing to her. "Tired and hungry, but still alive and kicking." Alcmene was still startled, and felt a strange uneasiness. She studied her husband carefully. He looked the same as always, with his blond beard, square jaw, and skin that smelled of the wind and distant paths he had crossed. But there was something strange about him somehow. Something ... different. She couldn't place it, but she sensed a powerful and mysterious force was behind it.
"Why are you staring at me?" snapped Amphitryon. "Aren't you glad to see me?" Alcmene blushed. "Of course, I am happy... It's just strange to see you after all this
time apart. "
"I have been gone at war for a year. I should get a warmer welcome than this." As he spoke, thunder shook the building and the sky burst open, drenching the city. Alcmene rushed into his arms. "You are a grown woman, but you are still afraid of storms," he whispered gently. "But you must not fear the wrath of Zeus when I'm here to protect you." A burst of lightning lit up the sky, but Alcmene did not notice. She felt safe. It seemed like she was being lifted from the ground and placed on a cloud.
A LONG NIGHT
Hermes felt like he was flying blind in the pitch darkness of the storm. He and Hellos, the Sun god, zigzagged across clouds that were spilling hail and rain. Rough air currents pushed them from all directions. Then Hermes took a deep breath and dove into a soft white cloud. When he came out, he was surrounded by blue sky. "I finally see sunlight," he exclaimed.
Helios, standing on his fiery chariot, looked at Hermes scornfully. "Who do you see, Hermes? What urgent message do you have for me?"
The messenger of the gods pointed to the thick clouds that hid the Earth. "I saw them! I bet Zeus is behind this storm," Hermes said. Hermes twirled and landed with his feet together on the backs of the winged horses that pulled Helios's chariot. "Oops!" Hermes exclaimed with a laugh. The horses started pawing nervously.
"Get down from there at once, fool! You're scaring the horses," yelled Helios. "So what's going on? Is this about Zeus?"
"Looks like our beloved king is hiding his latest romance with a nice storm. This time the lucky lady is Alcmene. She is a beauty and, as usual, Zeus can't help himself."
"Stop chattering, and tell me what I am supposed to do."
"Zeus commanded you to stop the chariot of the Sun," Hermes declared.
"What?!" Helios asked in disbelief.
"He wants a night that lasts three days for his new romance. Alcmene will become mother to an infant named Hercules. He'll become the greatest hero that ever Earth has ever known."
Helios became even angrier. "It is an impossible request! Men and nature need the Sun. Not even Zeus can stop the time!"
"It won't feel long to the world. Nobody will notice. They will just think they slept a little longer than usual and will wake up extra hungry. And you can take a little break yourself.
Anyway, you don't have a choice. You don't want to disobey the orders of the Chief. Do you want to be struck down by one of his lightning bolts?" Hermes asked the Hellos, whose eyes were still flashing wildly.
Together with Apollo and Eros, Helios was one of the most beautiful gods of Olympus. Many goddesses were charmed by his winning smile. Hermes, on the other hand, was not handsome, but he had his own gifts. His craftiness and intelligence were the reasons Zeus trusted him to solve important problems.
"I'm going to the leave the Moon and all will be good and quite for three days." Helios finally agreed.
Hermes put on his helmet, preparing to leave.
"What about the queen?" asked Helios. "Hera? She'll sleep like all the others," Hermes said simply.
"She won't sleep too long," Helios said. "She will figure out something's wrong."
AN ANGRY GUEST
Zeus raised his cup and all the gods seated at the banquet table did the same. He spoke with a thundering voice. "I propose a toast to the health of my last mortal son. The princess Alcmene will give birth to him today!" Glasses clinked, while many small lightning bolts lit up the sky. Zeus was beaming.
"I've never seen him so happy," Apollo whispered to his sister Artemis.
"He is madly in love with Alcmene," murmured Aphrodite.
"My son will be named Hercules," continued Zeus. "He will be the strongest and most just of men and will rule over the mortals."
"Oh, really?" a voice asked sharply. Everyone fell silent. Hera, the queen of the gods, was moving toward the throne, angrily pushing aside the clouds that floated in the great hall.
Zeus sprang to his feet. "Hera, I thought you were in the garden of the Hesperides!"
"I got bored and lonely out there, so I decided to come home early." Her green eyes darted everywhere and no one dared breathe. The queen was famous for her rages throughout all Olympus. "I see that I was right to return. I don't like to miss festivities, or births, or weddings."
She sat on the throne of clouds with her husband. "Stop staring at me with that stunned look. Don't let me spoil the party." In a quieter
voice, Hera whispered to her husband. "I cannot believe that you have betrayed me again! You will pay for this."
"You know I love only you. It was a silly romance. Please do not make a scene," Zeus begged.
"And this Hercules? When he is born, what will be his position among your children? I want you to make a vow right now that our children will always be the most powerful," Hera insisted. "What are they saying?" asked Athena. The gods tried to listen in, but they could not hear what was being said.
"Promise me," Hera said. Hera wanted her offspring to rule over all others. Zeus toyed with an arrow to buy time.
"Do you want me to scream?" Hera asked impatiently.
"Okay, I swear," Zeus sighed.
Hera stood up. "All right, dear. You've made the right choice." Hera gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and stormed out of the hall.
BROTHERS BY BLOOD
Hebe and Eileithyia were listening to their brother Ares talk about his latest battle. "...So I ripped apart the back of the dragon with a
sword, and the enemy army and its commander slid off the monster's back and were destroyed!" "Stop, Ares. You're going to scare your sisters." Hera had come into the room in a fury. "You kids knew about Alcmene and did not tell me. What kind of children are you? I can't trust anyone."
"Sure, yes," Ares, the god of war, agreed, "but I do not quite understand the plan. What does Nicippe's future son have to do with Hercules?"
"Use your brain, Ares," sighed Hera. Ares was her favorite son, but he wasn't terribly bright. "Nicippe is a descendant of Perseus, one of the many illegitimate children of Zeus. Her child will be a descendant of Zeus, too. This child will be named Eurystheus. He will have your father's blood in him. If Eurystheus is born first, he will have the right to reign, and Hercules will be a nobody. Do you understand now?"
Hera turned to Eileithyia. "Fly now. And do your duty!"
THE LITTLE BIG MAN
The Sun had just set and the palace of Thebes, where Alcmene and Amphitryon lived, was filled with a dim blue light. Alcmene loved this time of day: Her twins, Hercules and Iphicles, were fed and clean and ready to sleep. She could have a little time to herself before going to bed. She looked lovingly at her children, who were sleeping close to each other in the cradle.
Although he was only ten months, Hercules was more than twice the size of other babies his age, including his brother. He was a true giant, with a head of blond curls and a strong body.
Alcmene looked at him tenderly and kissed him. He was strong and brave, and yet it was the weak Eurystheus who would reign in his place. Hera had made sure of that. Alcmene sighed, but the Gods could decide how things would go for the mortals.
Alcmene kissed her other son, Iphicles, rocked the cradle gently, and left the room. As she walked along the hallway that led to her room, the building was silent except for the sound of her footsteps. In the quiet, she tried to imagine what the future held for her twins. As happened every time, she had a premonition. In this vision of the future, she saw the face of Hercules as an adult. He was exhausted and in pain. She shuddered.
Hercules was the son of Zeus. Iphicles was the son of her husband Amphitryon. She loved them both with all her heart, but she worried more about Hercules. She feared her husband's anger if
he found out the truth. But it was not her fault. Zeus had pretended to be her husband when they had their romance. The only thing that mattered now was that she would protect her son. She would fight for him even if that meant she had to stand up to the most powerful of
the goddesses.
HERA'S ASSASSINS
At midnight two snakes covered with purple scales slithered across the sleeping city of Thebes. The gate of Amphitryon's palace opened silently in front of them and the serpents slithered toward the nursery. They found the two sleeping babies. Their forked tongues were ready to strike. Suddenly, Iphicles awoke. When he saw the snakes, he let out a piercing shriek. He kicked so hard in fear that the cradle overturned.
In her bedroom, on the other side of the building, Alcmene sat bolt upright in bed.
"Iphicles! Hercules!" she screamed. "Wake UP, Amphitryon!', Without waiting for her husband, she jumped out of bed and headed for the nursery.
Her husband pulled the sword from the wall and followed his wife.
"Alcmene ! What is happening?"
"Run! Can't you hear the screaming? The children are in danger!"
Amphitryon rushed forward, calling the palace guards to help him. Alcmene tried to keep up, but her husband ran faster. She found
herself alone in the maze of hallways. Then she heard an evil laugh. "Hera, is that you? You are a mother, too. I beg you, please do not hurt my children." But it was Hercules who saved the day.
When Iphicles saw the snakes and screamed, Hercules awoke with a start. He felt a cold drop of poison on his forehead and jumped up. He found something soft and pressed with his fingers of steel. He was mad because those things slithering in the darkness had scared his little brother. He crushed the snakes in his hands until the monsters were dead, with their tongues hanging out of their mouths. At that moment, Amphitryon, the guards, the nurse, and Alcmene burst into the room. Hercules proudly showed off the two dead snakes. Iphicles was sitting on the floor, confused, but safe.
"Iphicles!" shouted Alcmene, lifting him from the ground and kissing hire. kisses. You are safe."
"Hercules!" Amphitryon exclaimed, taking him in his arms and holding up in front of everyone. "Look at him! He has the courage and the strength of a god!"
When the room was quiet again, Alcmene wrapped Hercules in a blanket and rocked him gently. "Become a powerful warrior and, when
you grow up, win back the throne that belongs to you," she whispered. But Hercules was already asleep.
A PLAN
"Trust me!" Hermes repeated impatiently. "And do what I say."
Alcmene looked worried. "I wish Zeus had come here himself. I'm not sure this is a good plan."
"Zeus has more important things to do!" Hermes shot back. "Now, there's no time to lose."
Alcmene held Hercules tightly in her arms. "Don't worry," she whispered, "your mother is
here." She looked at him with love. Can you say `mama' ?
"Mama!" Hercules yelped. "Shush!" Hermes scolded. "Do you want to be discovered?"
Alcmene shot him an angry look. "This is easy for you. He's not your son. You don't have to worry about some awful beast hurting this small, helpless child."
"Helpless? This child killed two snakes with his bare hands!"
"Never mind," Alcmene said, "I can't help being worried. If anything happens to him, I will never forgive myself. I'm not going back to Thebes. I am going to hide among those olive trees and wait in case my son needs me.
The messenger of the gods looked up to the heavens. "What should I do with her, Zeus?" Lightning streaked across the blue sky.
Hermes understood the message. "Okay, okay. I'll make sure she gets to the trees safely." He led Alcmene to a hiding place among the trees. Alcmene gave a last kiss to Hercules, then watched Hermes fly away with her precious son.
A DROP OF MILK
Hellos was riding his fiery chariot over the tops of the mountains, when Hera and Athena stepped out from a bend in the path. As usual, the two strong-willed goddesses were arguing heatedly.
"Your father cannot continue to betray me in this way," Hera was saying. "I'm out of patience. Alcmene must be the last, or I will move to the garden of the Hesperides for good." Suddenly, she stopped and raised her head, listening. "Did you hear something, Athena? Did you hear a crying sound?"
Ignoring the thorns, she pushed into the bushes. "Look!" Hera exclaimed. She was holding Hercules in her arms. The huge baby was kicking wildly. "What a big baby!" Hera said. "How could a mother leave her child out here alone?"
"Perhaps there is a reason," Athena muttered, looking down. She had agreed to be part of the plan Zeus and Hermes had come up with, but she did not like lying to others. She hoped it would all be over soon.
Hercules continued to kick and squirm. "What a strong child. I would be proud of a son like this. I could never leave him. But human beings are so wild. But this is a beautiful baby. These violet eyes look like Zeus's."
Athena got nervous when Hera spoke of Zeus.
"And look at his strong muscles. You remind me so much of my own son Ares! This baby must be very hungry! He needs some mother's milk. Hera fed the baby with her own milk. Some of the milk splashed into the sky.
Athena watched the droplets of milk fill the sky and form a new galaxy. "This galaxy should be called the Milky Way," Athena said
in amazement.
But Hera was tired now. "Take this baby. He is so strong, he is hurting me. It's always the same. Try to do good to mortals and we get nothing but trouble." Hera flew off.
When Hera had disappeared on her golden chariot, Athena let out her battle cry. Hearing the cry, two shadows came out from among the trees: Alcmene and Hermes.

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Little support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Dialog: Broken dialogue

Dialog: Unlabeled Speaker

Vocabulary: Many difficult words

Language: Colorful, figurative

Sentences: Multiple phrases

Text structure: Story/Poem

Inferences: Several Implications

Complexity: Several unrelated ideas

Concept: Fanciful

Chapters

Headings

Mature concepts: With common experiences or clear fantasy

Features

Character traits

Integral Setting - Historical

Complex plot

Difficult names

Topic

Challenges

Adventures

*Fictional Ideas/Charac

Low Frequency Words

alcmene	amazement	amphitryon	amphitryon's	angrier
angrily	announced	aphrodite	ares	artemis
assassins	athena	banquet	betray	births
chariot	charmed	courage	craftiness	curls
currents	descendant	disobey	drenching	droplets
eileithyia	eros	eurystheus	excitedly	exhausted
fault	fiery	forked	fury	future
galaxy	goddesses	handsome	heatedly	hebe
helios	hellos	helpless	hera	hera's
hermes	hesperides	ignoring	illegitimate	impatiently
intelligence	iphicles	lovingly	madly	mattered
messenger	monster's	mortal	mortals	mount
murmured	muttered	mysterious	nature	nervously
nicippe	nicippe's	nursery	offspring	olive
olympus	overturned	patience	pawing	perseus
piercing	precious	premonition	propose	rages
reasons	reign	request	romance	rough
scaring	scornfully	sensed	shriek	slithered
slithering	spilling	sprang	squirm	stammered
startled	streaked	studied	stunned	surrounded
swear	sword	tenderly	terribly	terrified
throughout	thundering	tongues	uneasiness	upright
urgent	velvet	vision	warrior	willed
windowsill	winged	wrath	yelped	zigzagged