Download Myth Book Packet

Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths
by Bernard Evslin
Directions: Complete the readings below by the assigned dates. As you complete each chapter, answer
the study guide questions in the rest of this packet.
Reading Schedule (assigned Mon, Jan. 4)
Reading Due Dates
Thursday, January 7
Chapters
Zeus, Hera, Athena, Poseidon
# of Pages
16
Friday, January 8
Hades, Demeter, the Twins, Artemis
17
Monday, January 11
Apollo, Sons of Apollo, Hermes,
Hephaestus, Aphrodite
17
Tuesday, January 19
Prometheus, Pandora, Phaethon,
Orpheus
30
Wednesday, January 20 Narcissus and Echo, Eros and Psyche,
Arion
22
Thursday, January 21
Perseus, Daedalus
37
Friday, January 22
Theseus, Atalanta
44
Monday, January 25
Midas, Pygmalion
14
Hint: Over 130 pages are due during the week of Jan. 18. Don't wait till the last minute. Expect pop
quizzes.
If you don't want to read on weekends, you must read 15 pages or 2 chapters each school day.
If you don't mind reading on weekends, you must read 10 pages each day or 1-2 chapters each day.
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Zeus
p. 3-5
god of:
How did he become the god of this?
son of:
sibling to:
father of (from other chapters):
married to (from other chapters):
Who are the Cyclopses?
Who are the Titans?
Complete the family tree on the next page.
Hera
p. 6-7
goddess of:
married to:
names of her children
1.
2.
3.
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what they're the god of
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
The Family Tree of the Gods
Directions: Label the names of the gods on the lines above where is says what they're the god of. Use the
first two chapters of the book to fill in the blanks. As you read other chapters, you can add branches to
the tree.
the First One
god of time
goddess of fire,
hearth and home
first born
created 2009
goddess of growing
things
goddess of earth
queen of the gods
god of the sea
god of the
underworld
god of all gods
god of the sky
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Athene
p. 8-14
goddess of:
daughter of:
summarize her birth story in one sentence:
According to this book, where do spiders come from? Briefly summarize the story in five sentences or
less.
Poseidon
p. 15-18
god of:
son of:
husband of:
What beautiful creature did Poseidon create?
What are the connections between the moon and the horse?
Hades
p. 19-21
god of:
son of:
husband of:
How does this chapter explain why ghosts sometime haunt us?
What happens to most souls?
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Demeter
p. 22-29
goddess of:
daughter of:
mother of:
Who fathered her two children?
What is the story of Persephone being kidnapped is supposed to explain about our world? (Focus on
Demeter's reaction)
Birth of the Twins
p. 30-31
children of:
their names:
Artemis
p. 32-35
daughter of:
What four names did people give her?
What happened to the nymph who broke her vow to Artemis?
modern connection: For those of you who read Artemis Fowl, explain why the author named the character
after this god.
Apollo
p. 36-38
god of:
son of:
What plant does this story explain the origin of? Summarize briefly how it came to be.
modern connection: Why do you think NASA named several of their early mission to the moon the Apollo
program?
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Sons of Apollo
p. 39-42
Who was Apollo's most famous son? What was he known for?
How was Apollo punished by Aphrodite for having him brought back to life?
Hermes
p. 43-47
god of:
son of:
jobs (list 2):
Hephaestus
p. 48-49
son of:
talents:
physical appearance:
Aphrodite
p. 50-52
goddess of:
born from...
married to:
What did Hephaestus say that made Aphrodite choose him?
created 2009
Greek Myths
English 8
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Prometheus
p. 55-58
Who are the main 3 characters (they don't have be gods)?
What is the conflict?
How does Zeus's argument for why humans shouldn't have fire seem similar to other creation stories you
may know (ie Adam & Eve)?
Like many mythology stories, this story explains the beginning of something in our world. What does
this story explain the origins of?
How is Prometheus punished?
Pandora
p. 59-62
Who are the 3 main characters?
Describe Pandora.
The story of Pandora is a punishment for humans because they accepted fire. What is their punishment?
How is their punishment not as bad as it could be?
How is their punishment similar to the story of Adam and Eve?
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Phaethon
p. 63-73
Who are the 3 main characters?
What are the 2 conflict?
What happens during Phaethon's drive?
What happens to Phaethon at the end?
List 3 things that this story explains the origins of.
Orpheus
p. 74-83
Who are the 3 main characters?
What is the main conflict?
What is Orpheus known for?
Why did Eurydice die?
How is the conflict resolved? How does the story end?
modern connection: How is Cerberus, the three-headed dog, used in Harry Potter?
created 2009
Greek Myths
English 8
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Narcissus and Echo
p. 84-90
What are Echo and Narcissus each known for?
Why and how does Hera punish Echo?
How does Hera's punishment create a conflict for Echo? What does she ask Aphrodite for to resolve her
conflict?
What is Aphrodite's punishment for Narcissus?
What to things does this story explain the origins of?
Go to dictionary.com (or a real dictionary) and look up the word narcissist. What does it mean?
Hint: A good student would look up a picture of a narcissus flower.
Eros and Psyche
p. 91-101
Think about Valentine's Day. Can you figure out Eros's Roman name?
Why does Psyche lose everything?
When Psyche finally sees Eros, what reason does he finally give for why she can't see him yet?
What is the lesson about love in the last paragraph?
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Arion
p. 102-105
What is Arion's talent?
What is the oracle's prophecy?
What was Arion's conflict on his return voyage? How does he resolve it?
How does the prophecy come true?
How has Arion been honored?
Hint: A good student would find out about the constellation.
Perseus
p. 109-133
What is the oracle's prophecy for King Acrisius? How does he decide to solve this problem?
What does Danae tell Perseus about his birth?
Describe Medusa. What did she do that caused Athene to make her look this way?
How does Perseus kill Medusa (mention the 4 tools he used)? Why did he have to do it this way?
Who are Medusa and Poseidon's children?
List the three facts you think are most important to remember about Andromeda.
You should also be familiar with Polydectes, Gray Sisters, Nymphs of the West, and Atlas.
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Daedalus
p. 134-144
How did Daedalus lose Athene’s favor? What does this part of the story explain the origin of?
Why does Aphrodite punish Queen Pasiphae? What lesson do you think this part of the story is
supposed to teach the ancient Greek listeners?
How does King Minos punish Queen Pasiphae?
What happens to Icarus on their flight from Crete? What lesson do you think young Greek listeners are
supposed to learn from this part of the story?
modern connection: In the movie Space Cowboys (2000), a group of want-to-be astronauts called team
Daedalus from the 1950-60s designed a satellite guidance system. Why do you think they were called
team Daedalus?
Theseus
p. 145-171
Since Theseus is not a large man, what important strategy does he learn to use when he is fighting larger
opponents?
sort of modern connection: How does Theseus prove that he is Aegeus's son? In what other story does a
hero prove his is a king's son in the same way?
List the dangers he encounters on the road to Athens and how he overcomes each of them.
Dangerous Character
1.
2.
3.
4.
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How does he defeat the dangerous character?
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
After defeating the last dangerous character on the road, Theseus says to him:
"As you have done by travelers, so are you done by," said Theseus. "You have made your bed,
old man. Now lie on it."
This lesson applies to the way Theseus defeats all of the dangerous characters on the road. What is the
lesson an ancient Greek audience was supposed to learn from this part of the story?
What is Athens' annual tribute to Crete?
How does Theseus apply the fighting strategy he learned in the beginning from the gull to the Minotaur?
How does this story explain origin of the name of the Aegean Sea?
You should also be familiar with the roles of King Minos, Ariadne, Phaedra, and Poseidon in the story.
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Atalanta
p. 172-188
Why is the wild boar sent?
Why does Meleager die?
What does Hippomenes do differently from the other suitors that allows him to win the race?
Atalanta's bad luck began at birth, according to the first sentence. In what ways was she unlucky
throughout the whole story?
Midas
p. 191-196
At what point does Midas seem to be the greediest? Why do you think so?
What lesson does Apollo teach Midas when he takes back his "gift"?
What is Midas's final lesson?
What does this story teach listeners about how they should live their lives?
modern connection: One national auto repair company is called Midas. Their slogan is "Trust the Midas
touch." What does this company want customers to believe about their services by using this allusion to
Greek mythology?
created 2009
Name
Ms. Carbaugh
Greek Myths
English 8
Pygmalion
p. 197-204
How does Pygmalion's plan backfire?
What is Aphrodite's argument for why she cannot let Pygmalion marry the statue? (Hint: What does she
say about love?)
How does Pygmalion turn Aphrodite's words around in his argument for why he should be allowed to
marry the statue? (Hint: What does he say about love?)
Mythology Becomes Language—Recommended
p. 205-210
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