Download Traditional Stories

Aim: To become familiar with the
concepts of mythology.
Do Now: Write a paragraph
describing the qualities of a hero.
You may discuss someone you
believe to be a hero. Do this on a
separate sheet of paper. It will
be collected.
An Introduction
to Mythology
Heroes, Gods, Goddesses,
and The Olympians
What is a myth?
A myth is a story set in a time before the world was
fully developed in the way we know it today, and
usually considered true. Myths feature heroes,
gods/godesses, or supernatural beings.
What is the purpose of a myth?
Ø
Provided answers to the great philosophical questions,
such as:
Ø How the universe came into being
Ø The nature of the forces operating within the
universe
Ø The origins of the first people and of the community
Ø
Offered guidance on personal behavior, social rules,
and what might happen in the afterlife.
Ø
Provided the mental foundations of understanding and
belief on which individuals could build their lives.
What is a hero?
What is a hero?
► Traditionally,
in Greek Mythology and
Folklore, a hero was originally a demigod
(part god, part human).
What is a hero?
► Later,
hero (male) and heroine (female)
came to refer to characters who, in the face
of danger and adversity, or from a position
of weakness, display courage and the will
for self sacrifice.
What is a hero?
► An
epic hero refers to a main character in an epic*
whose legendary or heroic actions are central to
his/her culture, race, or nation
*Epic: A long poetic composition, usually centered
upon a hero, in which a series of great
achievements or events is narrated in elevated
style (ex: Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey)
Heroes and Greek Myth
►
More often than not, the subject of Greek myths is
heroic.
►
The role of the hero is mapped out in such recurring
themes as: the separation from the mother, the
overcoming of obstacles, and the finding and
supplanting (to overthrow or force out) of the father.
►
A great hero whose life fits these patterns is
Perseus: the first of the mythic heroes of Greek
mythology, whose exploits in defeating various
archaic monsters provided the founding of the
Twelve Olympians.
Gods and Goddesses
► The
gods were differentiated from heroes
not so much by their strength as by their
supernatural power.
Gods and Goddesses
►They
demanded worship from heroes
and men alike and, in return, were able
to perform miracles, offer supernatural
protection, or give magical gifts-as in the
story of Perseus.
Gods and Goddesses:
►These
supernatural beings often would
disagree with each other, which can
cause either unfortunate circumstances
for the mortals or horrible weather and
storms.
The Olympians
► The
Olympians are the twelve Gods of Mount
Olympus, which is located in the northern central
part of Greece.
The Olympians
► These
Gods/Godesses include: Zeus, Hera,
Poseidon, Demeter, Ares, Hermes,
Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis,
Apollo, Hestia, and Dionysus.
The Olympians
► This
mountain was believed to be sacred
throughout ancient times, and it was
believed to be the highest point on Earth.
The Olympians
► The
Gods that ruled Mount Olympus also
ruled the lives of all mankind. Each
God/Goddess had his/her own character
and domain.
The Olympians
► Gods
in mythology were very humanlike.
They had the strengths and weaknesses of
mortals (as we know them today). They
were truly made to represent every side of
human nature.
The Olympians
► In
addition to the twelve Olympian deities
are Hades, who ruled the Underworld with
his queen, Persephone.
The Olympians
► Gods
even had children with mortals, which
resulted in semi-gods (or demi-gods) like
Hercules.
The Olympians
► The
Gods expressed human nature in its
entirety: strength, fear, unfaithfulness, love
admiration, beauty, hunting, farming,
education-a God for every human activity
and expression.
The Olympians
► These
Gods weren’t just ideal figures; they
were beings with their own limitations. They
expressed anger, jealousy and joy, just like
us.
The Olympians
► Each
God ruled his own realm. The only
truly omnipotent (unlimited power) God was
Zeus, who ruled all.
Homework
► Rewrite
your paragraph from the beginning
of the period. Use three appostives and
three prepositional phrases in your
paragraph. Circle the appositives and
underline the prepositional phrases. Write
your final copy on the same paper. I will
collect it a grade it.