Greek Mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and teachings that belong to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. It was a part of the religion in ancient Greece. Modern scholars refer to and study the myths in an attempt to shed light on the religious and political institutions of ancient Greece and its civilization, and to gain understanding of the nature of myth-making itself.
Survey of Greek Myths - Individual Project
"Divide and conquer" will be our motto for this survey of Greek myths. Each of you will select a myth from the list below, analyze its fictional and mythological elements then share the story of the myth by creating a Funko Pop! character. In addition to sharing the story of your myth through the product, you'll also supply the audience with the key "takeaways" of the story. What does the audience need to know to about the myth to understand it, remember it, and recognize an allusion to it? After all the myths have been shared, the class will take a test over the myths based on the groups' takeaways.
Greek Myths and Heroes
- Prometheus - Ny'Kirah
- Pandora - Trell
- Heracles - Kaylee
- Demeter & Persephone - Keira
- Theseus & Minotaur - Max
- King Midas - Kate
- Perseus & Medusa - Esny
- Sisyphus - Edith
- Tantalus - Ella
- Pygmalion & Galatea - Karson
- Cassandra -
- Daedalus & Icarus - Vir
- Narcissus - Taylor
- Arachne & Athena - Greenlee
- The Amazons - Iyana
- Orpheus & Eurydice - Grace
- Jason & the Argonauts - Baron
- Pegasus & Bellerophontes - Laney
- Psyche & Eros - Kenzie
- The Nine Muses - Macie
- Atlas - Jessye
- Achilles - Ozzy
- Europa - Nykki
- Phaethon and the Sun Chariot - Sarah
- Deucalion and Pyrrha -
- The Three Sisters of Fate -
- Apollo and Daphne - Kendall
- The Apple of Discord - Maliyah
- Odysseus - Faith
Literature of Ancient Greece
Greece is a small mountainous country, yet it gave birth to some of the most cherished ideas of Western civilization. The Greeks championed individual freedom, developed an early form of democracy, and demonstrated the power of rational thought. Greek ideals of beauty and justice have spread throughout the world. Greek literature, especially poetry and drama continue to inspire writers today.
Literary Elements
Literary Style: Epithets
Epithets are descriptive words of phrases that characterize persons and things. For example, the adjectives "brilliant" and "godlike" frequently appear before Achilles' name in The Iliad. He is also identified as "the swift runner," "the headstrong runner," and "the proud runner."
Epithets are also used in the Odyssey. Odysseus is referred to as "the man of twists and turns;" Calypso, "the bewitching nymph;" and Poseidon, "the Sea-lord."
Literary Style: Epic Simile
As you know, a simile is a comparison that contains the word like or as. An epic simile is a simile that extends over several lines. Often epic similes serve to increase the dramatic power of the passages in which they occur.
Here is an example of an epic simile from the Odyssey: "...its crackling roots blazed and hissed - as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens - that's the iron's strength - so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake." Odysseus compares the sizzling sound of the Cyclops' eye to that of sticking fire-hot metal in cold water.
Epithets are descriptive words of phrases that characterize persons and things. For example, the adjectives "brilliant" and "godlike" frequently appear before Achilles' name in The Iliad. He is also identified as "the swift runner," "the headstrong runner," and "the proud runner."
Epithets are also used in the Odyssey. Odysseus is referred to as "the man of twists and turns;" Calypso, "the bewitching nymph;" and Poseidon, "the Sea-lord."
Literary Style: Epic Simile
As you know, a simile is a comparison that contains the word like or as. An epic simile is a simile that extends over several lines. Often epic similes serve to increase the dramatic power of the passages in which they occur.
Here is an example of an epic simile from the Odyssey: "...its crackling roots blazed and hissed - as a blacksmith plunges a glowing ax or adze in an ice-cold bath and the metal screeches steam and its temper hardens - that's the iron's strength - so the eye of Cyclops sizzled round that stake." Odysseus compares the sizzling sound of the Cyclops' eye to that of sticking fire-hot metal in cold water.