Download Name: Belen M

Sample Paper for Greek Mythology Class
1. Each student must write a paper with a particular theme related to the myths
we have studied in class.
2. You can develop any of the themes I have listed for you in the handout.
3. The Title of your paper must indicate the theme you are going to explore.
4. Your paper must have at least five (5) paragraphs.

An introductory paragraph that indicates the thesis statement you want
to develop in three (3) points or aspects.
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Each of the middle paragraphs must begin with a topic sentence,
followed by three (3) examples to prove your point.

The last paragraph is a conclusion summarizing the main ideas or
thesis, without however repeating the same words.

Any statement copied from an author must be acknowledged. Use
quotation marks “ ” to mark words or phrases copied from any book,
journal or magazine. After the quoted words, you must write the
author’s name and the page number. For example please see page 3
and 4 of the sample paper.

Your paper must include the works cited in your paper. Include the
author’s name, title of the book, the place where the book was
published, publishing company and the year of publication.
(See the work cited of the sample or consult the MLA Handbook)
5. Your paper must be typed on A-4 papers, with one-inch left and right margins.
6. Please consult the sample paper below.
Student Name: Belen M. Sy
Student No. ___________
The Functions of Transformation in Greek Mythology
Transformation plays a very important role in Greek mythology. Gods and
goddesses were able to change their figures into different forms. In fact, the theme of
transformation functions in many ways; namely; it is used to disguise one being to
another; it is used to punish another being, and it is used to create a new situation or
new beings. Transformation or the changing of one object to another or of one being
to another abounds in many stories, especially in Greek myths.
The first function of transformation is for disguise. Gods and goddesses often
transformed themselves to disguise into another being. Zeus, for example, changed
himself into different forms. The father of all gods, Zeus, once set his sight on his
sister Hera, who wanted nothing to do with him. Knowing he needed drastic measures
to get near Hera, Zeus transformed himself into a sad and bedraggled looking cuckoo
bird, soaking wet from a strong down pour. Hera paid a look at this pitiful bird and
held him to her heart so as to warm him. That was the moment when Zeus turned back
into his regular awesome form and ravished Hera, who was helpless in his arms. Hera
had little choice but in shame agreed to marry him. In another instance, Zeus became
an eagle when he seduced Ganymede to become his lover (Powell 141). Zeus also
turned himself into a beggar as he and Hermes went to visit the poor couple Baucis
and Philemon, in order to test mankind’s sense of hospitality towards strangers. On
the other hand, to remain united as couple, Baucis and Philemon were transformed
into intertwining trees at their request. In the earlier adventure of Jason and the
Argonauts, Hera disguised herself into an old woman who Jason carried on his back
across the flowing river. His kind action was rewarded by Hera’s divine protection
throughout his adventures. We find other examples of gods disguising themselves:
namely Athena disguised as Mentor to guide Telemachus, Zeus as a golden shower in
the myth of Perseus, or Dionysus transformed into a goat by Zeus to avoid Hera’s
revenge.
Transformation also functions as a punishment. One example is Callisto, a
nymph who vowed to Artemis to be chaste and pure all her life. But Zeus disguised in
the form of Artemis herself, lured Callisto. Months later Callisto became pregnant;
Artemis was angered and transformed Callisto into a bear. A more famous example of
transformation due as punishment is Arachne’s tale. Arachne could weave
wonderfully and claimed that no one could beat her handiwork, not even the
Olympian goddesses. However, Minerva (Athena) challenged her. Both of them
worked on their looms, which became beautiful threads. Both handiworks were
excellent. But Minerva was angered and “slit Arachne’s web from top to bottom. And
beat the girl around the head with her shuttle” (Hamilton 302). Arachne was disgraced
and hanged herself. However, Minerva was repentant; she lifted Arachne’s body and
sprinkled it with a magic liquid. Thereafter, Arachne “was changed into a spider, and
her skill of weaving was left to her” (Hamilton 303). Another example is Scylla, the
infamous monster of Homer’s The Odyssey. Scylla used to be a young beautiful girl,
whose beauty captivated many. It was claimed that Poseidon was in love with her, and
that the jealous Aphrodite persuaded Circe to transform Scylla into a monster. As a
punishment, Scylla had “the form of a woman with a ring of six dogs’ heads around
the lower part of her body,” these ferocious creatures devoured all that passed within
their reach (Grimal 414).
On the other hand, transformation generates different beings and situations. This
is a significant technique used in mythology because it reveals the specific features of
generation and production, which are all different from our daily human experiences.
Here is a famous example: Leda, queen of Tyndareus, was a great beauty. Zeus fell in
love with her at first sight. With the help of Aphrodite, Zeus changed himself into a
swan so that his wife, Hera, would not discover his infidelity. Zeus became a swan
chased by an eagle and then sought for refuge. Leda felt sympathetic for the swan and
held it to her body. A few months later, Leda laid two giant eggs, one of which gave
birth to the twin brother: Gemini (Castor and Pollux). The other egg gave birth to twin
sisters (Helen and Clytemnestra). As the famous story tells us, Paris fell in love with
Helen, abducted her and caused the unforgettable tragic Trojan War. In the myth of
Daphne we learned that she was a favorite follower of Artemis. Daphne vowed to
keep her virginity, although Leucippus, son of King Oenomaus fell in love with her.
To be close to her, Leucippus disguised himself as a girl and stayed with Daphne and
her friends. Apollo, who was loved Daphne was jealous. Apollo inspired Daphne and
the girls to bathe in a mountain pool, Leucippus hesitated to remove his clothing, but
when his companions forcibly undressed him, they found out his disguise. The girls
threw their lances at him, but the gods made Leucippus invisible. Meanwhile Apollo
jumped forward to seize Daphne but she ran off and in answer to her prayer to Zeus,
Daphne was changed into a laurel tree. We now understand why Apollo loved the
laurel tree very much as to make it his emblem.
There are more stories in Greek Mythology about transformation as a means
of disguise, a punishment and a change of situation. The gods and goddesses
possessed the transformation ability. Indeed, supernatural creatures commonly
possessed this feature and it is this transformative power that clearly divides human
beings from divine beings.
Work Cited:
Grimal, Pierre. The Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Translated by A. r. MaxwellHyslop. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 1996.
Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. NY: Warner
Books, 1942
Powell, Barry. Classical Myth. 3rd edition. NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001.