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Lesson 3: Greek Myths – Heroes Part 2
Student Objectives: The student will be able to answer the following questions:
1. How are Greek and Modern day Heroes alike and different?
Materials needed:
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Movie on unitedstreaming.com
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Pencil
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Lesson 3
Activities
1. Allow students to read over notes for the check-in
2. Watch 10 minute movie on unitedstreaming.com
3. Give student groups worksheets, and a story to read.
4. Answer any pre-reading questions the worksheet asks them - individually.
5. Read the notes about those characters in the story from the list above individually.
6. Read the story with their group
7. Write a short summary (space is on your worksheet) with their group
8. Answer post-reading questions when they finish the article with their group
9. As a class groups will discuss / present summaries of stories – students are
to fill out summary sheet
10. As a class groups will brainstorm what makes a Greek Hero – notice that
that characteristics may be different than what we said Modern Heroes
should be
11. Complete the Venn Diagram
Lesson 3: Greek Myths – Heroes Part 2
Take a few minutes to read over the list of some of the main characters we will be
learning about in the next few days!
Let’s take a look at some Greek heroes!!!!!! Use these notes to help you understand
the myths!!
Odysseus: the protagonist of Homer's Odyssey. He is the king of Ithaca and a
great warrior in the Trojan War but is best known for his decade-long trip
home from the war. Odysseus survives the challenges he encounters by using
his wits. A fine talker and brilliant strategist, he is perhaps the most
modern and human of the classical heroes.
Cyclops: Fearsome one-eyed giants, of whom Polyphemus is the most famous. In
some myths they are the children of Heaven and Earth; in others they are
the sons of Poseidon. They forge the thunderbolts of Zeus, who favors
them.
Polyphemus: The terrible Cyclops who imprisons Odysseus and his men and eats
them alive. They escape only after blinding him. In later myths, he becomes a
pitiful character who recovers his sight but chases after the cruel nymph Galatea
who mocks him.
Sirens/nymphs: In Greek mythology, the Sirens are creatures with the head of a
female and the body of a bird. They lived on an island and with the
irresistible charm of their song they lured mariners to their destruction on
the rocks surrounding their island. The Sirens sang when they approached,
their words even more enticing than the melody. They would give knowledge
to every man who came to them, they said, ripe wisdom and a quickening of
the spirit.
Circe: A powerful witch who, with the help of herbs, muttering incantations, or
praying to her weird gods, could turn men into animals, or create
unsubstantial images of beasts. She was able to darken the heavens by
hiding the moon or the sun behind clouds, and destroy her enemies with
poisonous juices, calling to her aid Nyx, Chaos, or Hecate. In her presence,
and because of her enchantments, the woods could move, the ground rumble,
and the trees around her turn white.
When Odysseus crew came to her island, she invited them in and turned
them into swines with a magic potion. With the help of an antidote Hermes
had given him, Odysseus managed to drink her poison without being
transformed. Circe was so surprised when nothing happened to Odysseus
that for a second she was defense-less, and the hero seized the moment and
put a sword to her throat, threatening to kill her. She was then forced to
turn his crew back to men, and they all stayed with her for a year.
Hercules and the 12 Labors: famous Greek hero, a son of Zeus who rises to
Olympus at his death. Hercules is renowned for his incredible strength and
bravery, but he lacks intelligence and self-control. Most of his adventures
begin with a horrible mistake that he makes and then attempts to fix. His
most famous feats, the Twelve Labors of Hercules, are the punishment he
receives for murdering his family in a fit of madness.
Atalanta: Greek heroine Her father wanted a son so badly that when Atalanta was
born, he left her in the middle of the forest in the mountain tops to die.
Artemis sent a "she-bear" to suckle her and eventually a hunter raised her.
Jason: Was a late ancient Greek mythological figure, famous as the leader of the
Argonauts (were a band of heroes who, in the years before the Trojan War,
They helped Jason in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes
from their ship, the Argo, which was named after its builder, Argus) and
their quest for the Golden Fleece.
Theseus: was a legendary king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus
and Poseidon, with whom Aethra lay in one night. Theseus was a founderhero, that was identified with an archaic religious and social order. Known
famously for slaying the Minotaur (half man, half bull monster who roamed
endlessly in the Labyrinth.)
Perseus: The son of Zeus and Danae. Danae's father, King Acrisius, set Danae and
her son adrift on the sea because of a prophecy that Perseus would kill him.
The two were taken in by Polydectes, the king of Seriphus. Polydectes later
conceived a passion for Danae, but was unable to force his attentions on her
because Perseus had grown into a redoubtable protector. To get rid of
Perseus, Polydectes sent him on a quest to bring back the head of the
Gorgon Medusa, a snake-haired maiden who turned all who saw her into
stone.
Lesson 3 Continued
Steps:
1. You will be given a worksheet, and a story to read. Answer any pre-reading
questions your worksheet asks you - individually.
2. Read the notes about those characters in your story from the list above individually.
3. Read the story with your group
4. Write a short summary (space is on your worksheet) with your group
5. Answer post-reading questions when you finish your article with your group
6. As a class groups will discuss / present summaries of stories
7. As a class groups will brainstorm what makes a Greek Hero – notice that the
characteristics may be different than what we said Modern Heroes should
be
8. Complete the Venn Diagram