Gorgon's head
Gorgon's head on a silver coin of Naples
permission to use image granted
S12: CLA215, Mythology:
  Review for Exam 4
Apollo's head
The god Apollo on a gold coin of Syracuse
image courtesy of Edgar L. Owen, #3803

Heroic Myths: Possible Essay Question (reminder: you can't write on the same topic for both paper 6 and the exam!):
1. Xenia: After briefly, but accurately, describing what the steps of xenia are, compare/contrast the example of "xenia" in the Polyphemus episode of the Odyssey in Powell's chapter with the similar episode from the movie (i.e. those involving Big Dan T).

2.  Fate vs Free Will: Using the quotes below as a springboard, discuss the role of fate/free will in the movie and in one of the following Greek myths: Jason & Medea, the Oresteia, the Iliad, the Odyssey:
 
Near the beginning, the blind man says:
      ... But fear not the obstacles 
     in your path, for Fate has vouchsafed 
     your reward.  And though the road 
     may wind, and yea, your hearts grow 
     weary, still shall ye foller the 
     way, even unto your salvation.
 
     "But once he bowed his neck to Necessity's yoke,
      a sigh gave proof of his terrible change of heart,
                   unholy, faithless, obscene.  

Aeschylus, Agamemnon 218-220, p 554 (7th edit), 518 (6th edit)
 
Near the end, the sheriff says:
     You have eluded fate - and eluded me - 
     for the last time. Tie their hands, 
     boys.
movie script: (click here)
 
     and "Don't be too troubled at heart. No one will send me to Hades
     until I am destined to fall. For no one, brave man or coward,
     once he was born on the earth, has ever avoided that hour.

Homer, Iliad 6.485-7, p 565 (7th edit),  529 (6th edit)

3. Conjugal love: Use the quote listed below as the basis of a comparison of the following couples: Jason & Medea and Everett & Penny. Finally what conclusions can you draw?
    "Lastly, I pray that the gods may grant you a husband and home,
a household of peace and love, for nothing is dearer or finer
than concord of husband and wife who share their hopes for the family,
the envy of all their foes and the glory of those who respect them."
(Homer, Odyssey, 6.180-185, p 612 in 7th edit, p 581 in 6th).

4. From the point of view of a book/movie critic, evaluate the changes the Coen brothers made with regard to at least 2 of the following:
Menelaus--Pappy O'Daniel
many suitors--one suitor
Telemachus--young female children
bard--Tommy, the guitar player
Poseidon--warden
In your conclusion address why the changes were successful or not. As always, make sure you give specific examples to back up your conclusions.

5. Heroic Code: After briefly describing the Heroic code, examine how the song "I am a man of constant sorrow" accomplished many of the same things for Everett and his friends.