A common use for Storyboard That is to help students create a plot diagram of the events from a story. Not only is this a great way to teach the parts of the plot, but it reinforces major events and helps students develop greater understanding of literary structures.
Students can create a storyboard capturing the narrative arc in a work with a six-cell storyboard containing the major parts of the plot diagram. For each cell, have students create a scene that follows the story in sequence using: Exposition, Conflict, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
*Note that this is a very general summary of his mythical story, and does not include his upbringing, the voyage of the Argo, the circumstances of his death, etc. An alternative to a plot diagram would be to make a Hero's Journey storyboard.
Zeus had an affair with Alcmene and Hercules was born. Hera was jealous and tried to kill Hercules with two serpents. Hercules strangled the snakes in his crib.
Hera hated Hercules. Later in life, she made Hercules go mad and he killed his family.
In order to atone for this sin, Hercules had to complete tasks for Eurystheus. Eurystheus assigned him impossible tasks to try and get Hercules killed.
Hercules completed the 12 Labors with strength, guile, and help from the gods. The Labors brought him all over the world and he defeated many foes.
Hercules was cleansed of the murder of his family. He won the hand of Deianeira after wrestling with a river god.
When Hercules died, his immortal side went to live with the gods on Mount Olympus.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a visual plot diagram of one of the Hercules myths.
Encouraging creative writing lets students apply their knowledge of Hercules in a fun and imaginative way. This activity builds writing skills and helps students connect personally with the myth.
Pick an episode from Hercules’ life not covered in the main plot diagram, such as his childhood or a side quest. This gives students fresh material and encourages research.
Begin with a sentence like, “One morning, Hercules woke to find…” to help students jump into writing. Story starters reduce writer’s block and make the activity accessible for all learners.
Tell students to write a short narrative (1-2 paragraphs) with a beginning, middle, and end. Clear expectations help students focus and organize their ideas.
Have students read their stories aloud or display them in the classroom. Celebrating student work builds confidence and creates a positive learning environment.
A plot diagram for the story of Hercules visually outlines the main events using six parts: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It helps students understand the narrative arc by mapping key moments from Hercules' myth, such as his origins, challenges, and ultimate fate.
Students can create a storyboard by dividing Hercules' myth into six scenes: exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. For each part, they draw or digitally design an image and write a brief description that summarizes the key events in that section of the story.
The main parts of a plot diagram are exposition, conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. These components help students break down and analyze the structure of myths like Hercules for deeper comprehension.
Using a plot diagram to teach the myth of Hercules helps students visualize story structure, reinforce key events, and improve understanding of literary elements. It also supports critical thinking and retention by encouraging students to organize and retell the narrative in their own words.
A plot diagram focuses on the basic structure of a story (exposition, conflict, etc.), while a Hero's Journey storyboard highlights stages specific to hero myths, such as the call to adventure and return. Both help students analyze stories, but the Hero's Journey offers more detail about the protagonist's transformation.