Read and Analyze Myths: Arachne's Web

Analyze the Roman myth of Arachne and Minerva in this fifth- and sixth-grade worksheet! Arachne was a boastful weaver who angered Minerva, the patron of weaving. During a competition between the two, Arachne portrayed the gods and goddesses as vengeful, causing Minerva to turn Arachne into a spider as punishment for her pride.

With two pages of reading and two pages of short-answer comprehension questions, this activity will prompt students to cite textual evidence, describe events, recognize sequence, and compare and contrast characters. These skills will help learners better understand the text and can prepare readers for longer, more complex literary analysis.

Check out Read and Analyze Myths: Orpheus and Eurydice for another myth study. Students can also refer to Introduction to Greek and Roman Myths for additional context.