Friday, November 20th, 2015

Dear Mythology Kids,

THANKSGIVING BREAK is almost here....YOU CAN DO THIS! 

If you missed class, we completed the following. 

1. Students completed Journal #11 entitled "Interesting Medusa. " You can find the clip on the History Chanel; it is called "Medusa." Please view it and record a minimum of 10 interesting points regarding the information shared with you regarding Medusa. 

2. Students were introduced to a new  assignment (indicated below). Please read through the instructions and come prepared on Tuesday to type your response in the lab. It is due at the end of class! Choose your art work, and locate text to support your points within the "Perseus" myth found within your book.

3. Student completed a quiz covering the "Perseus" myth. The myth is located on page 146 in your book, or page 205 if you purchased your own addition.  

“Damaging Self”

 “Hercules and the Nemean Lion”   By: Baldassarre Peruzzi

1.      Identify the subjects indicated in the piece of art work.

In the piece entitled “Heracles and the Nemean Lion,”by Baldassarre Peruzzi, Heracles, the greatest of Greek heroes, is grappling against the Nemean lion.  The lion was the first of twelve seemingly impossible tasks completed by Heracles

2.      In order to understand the piece, does the audience need some schema regarding past events?

Hera, queen of the gods, detested Heracles, because he was the child of Zeus, her husband, and a mortal woman named Alcemene.  Hera was so jealous of Zeus’s constant infidelities that she chose to retaliate against his lovers; however, Hera did not choose to take her anger out on Alcemene, as Alcemene was a faithful follower to Hera. Instead, Hera took her fury out on the child, who Alcemene named Heracles, after the goddess she worshipped.  Hera wanted to destroy the child, as he was a constant reminder of Zeus’s infidelity.  So, to carry out her revenge, Hera caused the young Heracles to go insane.  While playing with his three young sons and his wife, Megara, he temporarily went mad. According to Edith Hamilton "Hera who never forgot a wrong sent the madness upon him. He killed his children and Megera, too, as she tried to protect the youngest. Then his sanity returned. He found himself in a blood bathed hall; the bodies of his wife and children beside them" (Hamilton, 168). Once his lucidity returned, and he saw the bodies of his family,  he knew that he must accept any fate the gods prepared for him, as this was the only way he would be forgiven of his horrible crime.  Hera, naturally thrilled that he had destroyed his family, decided that she would determine his fate and punishment.  She said the only way he could be forgiven involved the completion of twelve impossible tasks.  The first labor was to kill the Nemean Lion; an impossible task, because the lion’s skin was impenetrable.

3.      What is taking place in the art work?

Heracles is able to defeat the Nemean lion by using his own strength against it.  Hamilton states, " The first was to kill the lion of Nemea, a beast no weapons could wound. That difficulty Heracles solved by  chocking the life out of him" (Hamilton, 171). After choking the lion, Heracles realizes that the skin would be an ideal form of armor, since it is impenetrable.   Initially, he is lost for a way to sever the skin from the lion’s body.  He finally decides to use the lion’s claw as the “tool” to complete the job.  He rips one of the claws from the immense paw, and uses it to cut through the steal-like skin, finally obtaining the impenetrable armor. From that moment on, he wears the skin as a form of protection against other monsters and weapons that he will encounter in the future.

4.      Explain the symbolic meaning concerning the myth depicted in the piece.

The “claw” used to sever the lion’s skin represents the “damage” individuals cause themselves. The lion's claw was the only way Heracles could obtain the lion's hide; basically, the lion then severed its own skin.  The symbolism behind this action indicates that people act as their greatest enemies; consequently, they cause the most damage to themselves.  It is not outside forces that destroy individuals, but their own flaws.

 THIS ASSIGNMENT IS DUE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24TH! IF YOU ARE LEAVING EARLY FOR THE BREAK, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT A HARD COPY PRIOR TO STARTING YOUR HOLIDAY!

 1. Select a piece of art located below for your assignment entitled " Myth in Art"

 2. Follow the example above, by thoroughly responding to the included questions:

• Identify the subjects indicated in the piece of artwork
• In order to understand the piece, does the audience need some schema regarding past events?  
•  What is taking place in the art work?
• Explain the symbolic meaning concerning the myth/character depicted in the piece.

3. Textual support must be used in questions #2 and #3. Please see the example above.
4. Please use MLA format, evn though the example given to you in class, and above, is single spaced.

"Denae" by Susan Lawson

 "The Grey Witches" by John Waterhouse

"Perseus with the head of Medusa"  by Bernini

"Danae in Box" artist unknown 5th Century B.C.

"Perseus and Medusa in Polydectes Court" by Sebastiano Rici

Tuesday, November 10th, 2015

Dear Mythology Kids,

We completed the following today in class:
1. Students completed the analysis for "Demeter" by Longfellow, and submitted it during class.
2. Students completed the quiz covering the "Greek Underworld."We will correct the quiz on Thursday.
3. Students were introduced to the characteristics of the "Mythological Hero."

We discussed the archetypal Greek hero and the qualities possessed by the hero.

Heroes in ancient Greek were given this title because they experienced what is known as PATHOS, or in other words, they suffered more than other individuals. Through their suffering they became stronger, but they suffered for selfish reasons.


•1. They are flawed.

•2. They experience PATHOS, or they suffer more than the average person

•3. They are "Born" : There are two types of "births"

•a. They are conceived in an unusual manner

•b. The hero is "born" when they realize that they possess

•4. They are always assisted by a "goddess" (female character)

•5. They experience what is known as an "IGNITION EVENT." This event is usually, but not always, tragic. It causes them to "ignite" into action.

•6. They are faced with physical and emotional challenges.

•7. Through these challenges they become enlightened (more knowledgeable/physically and emotionally stronger)

•8. Their deaths are usually violent.

•NOTE: Heroes experience at least 6 out of the 8 qualities

ARCHETYPE: This term is important, as you will hear it frequently in Mythology. An archetype is a pattern of traits that characters possess that qualify them as certain character types. For example, characters that possess the traits included above would be qualified as an archetypal hero.

HOMEWORK:
1. Expect a quiz covering the archetypal qualities of a hero and the article that we read in class entitled "The Heroes Journey."
2. Please read/annotate/notate the article entitled "The Hero's Journey" for Thursday.v Collect it from me if you missed class.
2. MOSAIC subject chosen and copies on transparency for Frday, November 20th.!

Friday, November 6th, 2015

Dear Mythology Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following objectives:
1. Students will self-assess their own work, and then evaluate the work of their peers.

We worked in pairs to review the "Comparison Essay." Students did this on an individual basis, and then they evaluated the work of their peers.

2. Students will extrapolate a poem working with a partner, and then analyze the piece on their own. Students were given time to write the analysis in class. We did not complete the analysis, so time will be given on Tuesday to complete the writing portion. If you missed class, the following poem was used as the basis for the analysis.

THIS NEEDS TO BE COPIED and then placed in your journal as JOURNAL #8! THE QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ANSWERED in association with the poem.

Child, when thou wert gone. 1.
I envied human wives and nested birds,
Yes, the cubbed lioness...I went in serch for thee. 2.
"Where is my loved one?"
I asked three grey heads.3.
"Where?" and I heard one voice from all three, We
know not for we spin the lives of men." 3.
Then I cursed the gods of heaven, and He...He brother
 of this darkness, He who is still hightest glancing from his height. 4.
On earth a fruitless dungeon, and prayers from me, for 5.
nine white moons of each whole year with me, three
dark ones in the shadow of they king. 6.

1. Identify the allusion to "child."
2. The phrase nested birds and cubbed lioness are appropriate for the subject. Explain.
3. Identify the allusion, and why the speaker would even consult these "three?"
4. Identify the allusion.
5. Why is the description "fruitless dungeon" appropriate?
6. Explain this allusions in relationship to pomegranates.

After students worked in groups to answer the above questions, each then worked on an individual basis to analyze the poem using the following prompt: "What is the poet's purpose in using Demeter and Persephone to exemplify mother/child relationships.?"



HOMEWORK:
1. Be prepared for a quiz covering the Greek Underworld and "Orpheus and Eurydice" for Tuesday.
2. Work on obtaining and printing your subject for the mosaic! 


PRACTICE QUESTIONS:
1. Identify the fates.....
2-5. Identify the sinners in Tartarus, and then justify why their punishment is appropriate (Symbolic) of the sin. (There are four).
3. You will have  questions perfaining to vocabulary that originates from Hades. Focus on the following:

• Sisyphus
• Tantalus
• Pool of Memory
• Somnus, God of Sleep  

 









 

Completed Hades/ Introduction of the mosaic

Dear Mythology Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. Tantalus
2. Ixion

Please communicate with someone in class regarding the two characters indicated above, or refer to my last post regarding Hades.

YOU WILL HAVE A QUIZ COVERING HADES ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH. "ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE" WILL BE PART OF YOUR QUIZ.

1. I introduced the mosaic assignment to each class today.

What is a mosaic? A piece of artwork that is comprised of many different pieces. Please see the examples of mosaics below.

Why were they so important to the ancient Greeks? They took the subjects from their mythology and literally cemented them into mosaic artwork.

Nemean Lion



Demeter

Medusa

I look forward to seeing the subjects you have chosen for your mosaics.

1. Introduction of your "Mosaic Assignment"

•Your mosaic must be at least 11 x 17 in size

•The subject may be any aspect associated with our study of Classical Mythology (gods, lesser gods, heroes, monsters, and specific myths and their characters)

•You need to be passionate about your selection.

•If you elect to draw the subject, extra-credit will be given

•If your mosaic is larger than the required size, extra-credit will be given

YOUR MOSAIC IS DUE THE LAST DAY OF THE TERM!

 

 

Welcome to Hades....11/2.2015

Dear Mythology Kids,

If you missed class, we completed the following:

1. Everyone submitted their Analysis regarding the poem "Titan" by Lord Byron. Please make sure you submit this upon your return.

2. You were introduced to Hades!

WELCOME TO HADES!

If I were to ask you to envision Hades, especially now that we have discussed its varying aspects, how would you describe it? This picture is an artist's concept of the entrance to Hades. He clearly DOES NOT know Hades as well as he should. Remember that only a part of Hades was Saturnine, and that of course was Tartarus.

If you missed class today, we discussed the Greek underworld of Hades. Each student received ahandout, which we completed together. I HAVE INCLUDED A COPY OF THE HANDOUT FOR YOU AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST! Several images were shared with you in relationship to the areas we discussed. I have attempted to include some of the images for you below.


HOMEWORK:
1.  Your comparison essay is due on Friday!
2. Please read "Orpheus and Eurydice" pg. 107 in your text. This myth illustrate how just Hades actually was.

The following pictures should give you greater insights into some of the aspects we discussed on Tuesday. Please make sure you obtain the information from someone else in class BEFORE you return.



This is the character known as Sisyphus. He was destroyed by Zeus due to his inappropriate sexual behavior. His pushes a boulder up a large mountain in Hades, with the one purpose of pushing it over the top. He is never successful in doing so, as the boulder always comes crashing down on him. This punishment is highly symbolic of the crime, as the rock represents Sisyphus' s sexual desires. He hopes to overcome them, but he he is unsuccessful in doing so.

These women are known as the Danaids. There are fifty of them, and on their wedding night, all but one, murdered her husband by stabbing him in his heart. Their punishment in Hades is to obtain water from the River Styx with the hope of filling Hades' garden pond; however, their jars have holes in the bottom. They were never able to complete the mundane task of filling the pond. This is symbolic of the fact that they took the trivial and mundane away from their husbands; consequently, they are forever cursed with it.


This is Ixion. He attempted to rape Hera. Zeus had him strapped to a wheel of burning fire. This is symbolic of the fact that a rapist will continue to rape unless caught...hence the wheel. The fire on either side is symbolic of the pain the victim feels. Ixion was constantly burned, but never burned away. OUCH!

Tantalus is another sinner in Hades. He murdered his nephew, and then fed his flesh to the gods in the form of a stew. The Olympians were so appalled by Tantalus' behavior that they cemented him within Styx, being cursed with perpetual hunger and thirst. Each time he attempted to drink from Styx the water would move away from him. There are fruit trees hanging above his head, and yet each time he attempted to grab some of the fruit it, too, would move away from him. He is perpetually hungry and thirty. Can you recognize that each punishment is symbolic of its crime!

THE GREEK UNDERWORLD (handout given on Friday, Oct. 20th)

1. The rulers of the underworld are _________ and his queen _________.
2. The ferryman is called __________________ and he must receive an _________ in order for the dead to cross the River Styx. The coin is placed under the _________ of the deceased.
3. The three most significant rivers in Hades are:
a. The River ______ is the river of the “unbreakable oaths.”
b. The River ________ is the river of the “forgetfulness.”
c. The river Mnemosyne is the “pool of ____________.”
4. The dog __________ guards the gates, and its most distinctive physical feature is ____________________.
5. When ghosts first arrive in Hades, they are taken to the judges of the dead to be tried according to the deeds during life. They are called __________________, ____________________ and _______________.
6. ________________ is the goddess of justice. She determines if the punishments are fair.
7. There are three areas of the underworld:
a. ____________ where people are sent who ______________________________ ________________________________________________________________
b. _____________ for those who lived ___________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
c. _______________ for those who could not _______________________________ __________________________________________________________________
8. A significant motif of mythological stories is justice: defining what is right and wrong and deciding how sinners should be punished. The Greeks were extremely imaginative in punishing those they considered guilty. There are four individuals who have eternal punishment due to their actions on earth.
a. The Danaids:


b. Sisyphus:


c. Tantalus:


d. Ixion:


9. From the surface of the earth, how does one find the entrance to Hades?

10. The FATES determine the length of one’s life. _________________ weaves the thread; the “disposer of lots,” ____________ gives each man their destiny; the most feared is ____________, as she cuts the thread and your life along with it.

11. The god of sleep, ___________________ and the god of dreams, ______________ belong to the retinue of Hades.
12. _____________ is the Greek goddess of Justice.

Posted by Mrs. Crampton at 11:31 AM