Heroic Myths:

• Intro & Gilgamesh: Powell, Chapter 13 (12 in 4th-6th edit) & Class nots:
  • Key Names & Terms
    • Gilgamesh, Enkidu, Utnapishtim, Ishtar, Siduri (Powell)
    • Honor/Shame & the heroic code: kleos, aretê, timê, role of gifts (class notes)
    • xenia: who protected, steps, gifts (class notes)
  • sample questions at Powell's web site: click here



• Heracles: Powell, Chapter 15 (14 in ...):
  • Key Names & Terms:
    • background & early life: Zeus, Hera, Heracles, Alcmena, Eurystheus, Amphitryon, Megara, Delphi
    • Labors: Nemean lion, Lernean Hydra, Stables of Augeas, Cretan bull, Cerberus
    • side deeds: Chiron, Admetus, Alcestis, Cacus (Rome)
    • later & end of life: Acheloüs, Deianira, Nessus, Philoctetes
  • sample questions at Powell's web site: click here


• 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, Chapters 16 & part of 17:
  • Key Names and terms:
    • Prior to Theseus: Cephalus, Procris, Procnê, Philomela, Tereus, Itys
    • Theseus' myths: Delphi, Aegeus, Troezen, Theseus, Poseidon, Procrustes, Bull of Marathon, Minotaur, Ariadnê, Hippolytus, Phaedra, Pirithoüs
  • sample questions at Powell's web site: click here


• Greek Heroes & the Underworld: Powell, Chapter 12 (11 in ..):
  • Key Names and terms: Hades, Pluto, Erinyes, Odysseus, Anticlea, Elpenor, Tiresias, Achilles, Aeneas, Sibyl, golden bough, Anchises, Charon, Cerberus, Tantalus, Sisyphus, Elysium, Orpheus, Eurydicê
  • sample questions at Powell's web site: click here


• Oedipus: Powell, Chapter 18 (17 in ...):
  • Key Names & Terms:
    • Prior to Oedipus: Zeus, Cadmus, Europa, Harmonia, Sparti, Delphi
    • Oedipus' myths: Delphi, Laius, Jocasta, Oedipus, Creon, Polynices, Eteocles, Haemon, Antigonê, Ismenê
  • sample questions at Powell's web site: click here

Possible Essay Questions:

• Source material: the movie Hercules, Powell, Ch 13, 15, 16, 18, and the part of 17 that deals with Theseus and the part of 19 that deals with Heracles. Optional: you may use any of the translations of the following plays: Sophocles'Oedipus at Colonus, Women of Trachis, Oedipus Rex, Euripides' Herakles, Hippolytus (click here and use the pull-down menus).
  
  Prompt: Giglamesh, Heracles(Gk myth), Hercules(movie), Theseus, Oedipus — all are heroes whom we have covered in this unit. Using only the primary source material listed above, which of these 5 would you most like to be and which would you least like to be based solely on their character traits.



• Source material: the movie Hercules, Powell, Ch 12. You may also use the following translations of the Odyssey (click here) and the Aeneid (click here).
  
  Prompt: Hercules, Odysseus, and Aeneas. Using only the primary source material listed above, compare contrast the journeys the three made to the "underworld," making sure you cover why they went, how they went, what they got out of it.