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Pre-Reading Notes
Mythology
A myth is a traditional story from a particular culture.
Usually explains a belief of that culture, a ritual of the
culture, or a mysterious natural phenomenon.
A myth deals with humans and the unknown, or humans
and gods.
Tells us how the world began and how humans and
animals were created along with certain customs and
gestures.
Emphasized the weakness of humans: cruelty, greed and
pride; showed human feelings.
Greek Mythology
No revelations of spiritual teachings; Pre-Christian era
Polytheistic: belief of worship of more than one god; a
combination of many tribes/myths.
Cities devoted to one or many Gods: built temples and had
priests to protect, festivals, oracles.
Epic
For example
Epic Hero
Possess larger than life qualities, possibly
supernatural powers.
Is a natural leader of men.
Is appealing to the opposite sex, but rarely has an
extended relationship.
Defeats monsters and/or fights gods.
Has good on his or her side
Ares, the God of War, rode alongside the Trojans
during The Trojan War to aid them.
Epic Hero
Often stands alone in battle and is a skilled
fighter.
Is smarter than everyone else, generally a
problem solver.
Has a weakness that often destroys him or her
leads to death this is called hamartia.
Achilles was shot and killed in his vulnerable heel
that was not dipped in the river Styx.
The Odyssey
Sequel to the Illiad
The Illiad focuses on the days toward the end of the
Trojan War.
The Odyssey focuses on one of the soldiers
(Odysseus) who fought in the Trojan War
Odysseus
Came up with the wooden-horse trick that led to
Troys collapse in the Trojan War.
Is a clever and skilled fighter.
Married to Penelope and has one son, Telemachus.
Homer
The author of Illiad
and Odyssey
Blind bard
Singer from the island
Chios
Was a singer of tales
All
historians/entertainers
of Homers time did
not write their
stories/facts down
Epithets