Heroic
Myths:
- Intro
& Gilgamesh:Powell,
Chapter
12:
- Key Names & Terms: hero,
Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Utnapishtim, Ishtar, Siduri
- sample questions at
his web site: click
here
- Perseus:
Powell,
Chapter
13:
- Key Names & Terms:
Acrisius, Danae, Perseus, Polydectes, Gorgons, Medusa, Andromeda
- sample questions at
his web site: click
here
- Heracles:Powell,
Chapter
14:
- Key Names &
Terms:
Heracles, Alcmena, Eurystheus, Amphitryon, Megara, Nemean lion, Hydra,
Ceryneian deer, Erymanthian boar,
Chiron, Augeas, Cretan bull, horses of Diomedes,
Admetus, Alcestis, Hippolyta, Geryon, apples of the Hesperides,
Antaeus, Cerberus, Omphale, Deianira,
Nessus,
- Hercules, the movie:
- key names
& terms: Zeus, Hera, Hermes, Hades, Pain, Panic, the fates,
Hercules, Alcmene, Amphitryon, Phil, Pegasus, Meg, the
titans, the cyclops, Thebes, "go the distance", "true hero"
- web site for script (click
here)
- Theseus:
Powell,
Chapter
15-16:
- Key Names &
Terms: Aegeus, Theseus, Procrustes, Medea, Minos, Minotaur,
Ariadne, Hippolytus, Phaedra, Pirithoüs, Centaurs,
- sample questions at
his web site: click
here (Ch15);
and here (Ch
16)
- Jason:
Powell,
Chapter
18:
- Key Names &
Terms: Pelias, Jason, Chiron, Argo, Lemnos, Phineus, Aeëtes,
Medea, Apsyrtus, Creon
Possible
Essay Questions:
- Essay
Question:
(400-500 words long)
- Based on character (as
opposed to
particular heroic deeds), which of these 4 Greek heroes--Perseus,
Heracles, Theseus, Jason--is most like Disney's Hercules and which
least like? Restrict your information on these heroes to the material
given in Powell.
- Describe
how well (or poorly) 2 of the following heroes fit into the
Jung/Campbell heroic myth theory--Gilgamesh, Perseus, Heracles,
Theseus, Jason, Disney's Hercules. Restrict your information on these
heroes to the material given in Powell and the movie for Disney's
Hercules.
- Compare
and contrast Disney's Hercules with Heracles, based on the movie and
the material on Heracles given in Powell. Keep in mind that a good
essay is not simply a list of things, e.g. Hercules' first heroic deed
was against Nessus whereas Heracles killed Nessus quite late in
Heracles' life, but should instead focus on similarities and
differences that are 'meaningful' or 'significant' or 'insightful'.