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:
(minimum 400 words long)
- In
transforming the Greek myth of Heracles into an American myth, Disney
transformed the role of the 'leading lady.' Examine how and why Disney
changed the role from that in Greek mythology (restrict your evidence
base for Greek mythology to Medea, Ariadne, and the various women in
Heracles' life). Make sure
you include in your discussion the impact the differing audiences for the
myths--Greek and American--had.
- In transforming the Greek
myth of Heracles into an American myth, Disney transformed the
religious underpinings of the myth. Examine how and why Disney changed
the religious underpinings from that found in Greek mythology (restrict
your evidence base for Greek mythology to Powell's chapters on Heracles
and Jason). Make sure you include in your discussion the impact the
differing audiences for the myths--Greek and American--had.
- Looking
at the myths of two of the following heroes as outlined in Powell
(Perseus,
Jason, Theseus), evaluate how the Greek concept of xenia and/or the
heroic code shaped the actions of the individuals in the myths.
- Examine the
evolution of the hero through Greek literature, starting with the myth
of Perseus, continuing with the myth of Heracles or Theseus, and ending
with the myth of Jason