It's Greek to Me
By: Mallory Swarts
Meaning of Myths
-teaches students how to identify morals and themes in modern literature
-These mythologies work as a source that the reader can recognize and help better understand the true meaning of a modern story
-A myth is a body of story that matters-the pattens present in mythology run deeply in the human psyche
-the lesson or moral the myth teaches is sometimes not completely evident in the story
Types of Myths
-There are three different types of myths: Biblical, Shakespearean, and folk/fairy tale
1.) Biblical Myth
-myth associated with Chirstainity that teach religious morals
-stories are questionable dealing with if the stories are real and actually occurred
-Many relations and similarities to God and Zeus (both fall from grace due to trickery, temptation, and deceit)
Ex. Noah's Ark- did a flood that could wipeout everything on earth really happen, could Noah really find every animal and put them on a ark
-there are many speculations on if this story is an factual event because there is no historical evidence to prove it actually happened
2.) Shakespearean Myth
-based on many stories on other writers work
-used biblical and fairy tale myths in his stories suchs as roman gods
-mythology was used during this the time period of Shakespeare to convey a deeper sense of characters and themes
Ex. A Midsummer's Nights Dream- characters have connections and origins from Greek gods (Puck resembles Eros the god of sexual love and beauty)
3.) Folk/Fairy Tale
-usually directed toward the audience of children
1.) Folk
-characters usually face the consequences for their actions
-passed down from generation to generation
-used to teach a moral or a lesson
Ex. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
2.) Fairy Tale
-involve magic and supernatural elements
-usually end in happily ever after
- Use of magical characters such as mermaids, witches, fairies, trolls, dwarves, elves, and giants
Ex. Snow White
Greek Mythology used in the Modern World
1.) Mythology evident in literature
-using Gods such as Zeus, Poseidon, and Apollo as characters
-use of mystical creatures (satyrs ,minotaur, and dragons)
-use of heroes and monsters (Pandora, Heracles, Midas, and Narcissus)
2.) Mythology hidden in the text
- the use of names, setting, and conflicts
Ex. Beauty and the Beast
-Beast transforms into a human
-the Beast is the metamorphosis of the story because of his transformation
Underlying Themes of Mythology
-many stories use the themes first seen in mythology
1.) Oedipus- family triangles, love triangles, dysfunctional family (Twilight, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games)
2.) Posiedon-man struggles with the sea (Moby Dick, The Old Man and the Sea)
3.) Underworld- ultimate challenge, deals with death and dark human nature (Lovely Bones, The Hunger Games, and My Sister's Keeper)
4.) Penelope (wife of Odysseus)- determenation to remain faithful/ to have faith (Forrest Gump, Romeo and Juliet)
5.) Metamorphosis- transformation (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast)
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
-use of Roman/Greek Gods and mythical creatures as characters
-use of different modern day settings and conflicts relating back to mythology
Ex.- Relates to Oedipus because Percy, his mother, and his father (Poseidon) are a dysfunctional family
-underlying themes/morals
1.) Identity- Percy has trouble finding his true identity because of his father Poseidon's role of a Greek God, but with the help of his friends and family he eventually becomes more independent and self-confident
2.) Any one can be a hero- Percy becomes a hero through his determination, love, and courage to save his mother from Hades
Summing it Up
-all stories evolve from ancient myths/mythology
-authors use myths and mythology because it is recognizable to readers
Work Cited
Learning Activity
-THINK, WRITE, SHARE
-Read the passage-think about how mythology is used in the text
-write it down
- share and discuss with the class
THINGS TO LOOK FOR
-type of myth
-themes or morals
-connections to characters and setting