Storytelling 1.What is the role of storytelling in a culture? 2.What does a culture’s traditional stories tell us about them? 3.Does traditional storytelling still have a place in our society?

Myth Myth is a traditional story, rooted in a particular culture, that usually explains a belief, a ritual, or a mysterious natural phenomenon. Myths are essentially religious because they are concerned with the relationship between humans and the unknown spiritual realm.

Greek Myths Revolve around the gods and goddesses

The Olympians Mount Olympus, Greece

The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods

1. Zeus, Chief of the Gods aka Jupiter sky and thunder married to Hera fathered MANY children

2. Hera, Queen of the Gods aka Juno marriage and family married to Zeus very jealous

3. Poseidon, God of the Sea aka Neptune sea and earthquakes Brother of Zeus violent mood swings

4. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest aka Ceres fertility, agriculture, nature & seasons mother of Persephone very close to the people

5. Athena, Goddess of Wisdom aka Minerva wisdom & warfare sprang from Zeus’s head

6a. Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth aka Vesta hearth & home bless food

6b. Dionysus, God of Wine aka Bacchus vine, wine & theater drunkard

7. Apollo aka Apollo light, truth, poetry, prophecy, & music twin of Artemis ideal man

8. Artemis, Goddess of Hunting aka Diana moon, hunt, maidens, wild creatures twin of Apollo

9. Ares, God of War aka Mars war, violence & bloodshed son of Zeus & Hera cruel, hated

10. Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty aka Venus love, beauty & desire sprang from white beauty of seafoam married to Hephaestus many affairs

11. Hephaestus, God of Metalworking aka Vulcan forge & fire son of Zeus & Hera ugly, peace-loving

12. Hermes, Messenger of the Gods aka Mercury guide dead souls son of Zeus mischievous & clever

Other Gods and Goddesses

Helios, Sun God

Hades, God of the Underworld aka Pluto Lord of dead, does not kill Kidnapped Persephone

Persephone, Goddess of Spring aka Proserpine springtime daughter of Zeus & Demeter forced to be queen of dead

Epic An epic poem is a long narrative poem that “tells of the adventures of a hero who in some way embodies the values of his civilization” – A physically impressive hero of national or historical importance – A vast setting encompassing much of the known physical world and sometimes the Land of the Dead – A quest or journey undertaken in search of something of value – The involvement of supernatural forces – Glorification of (deification) the hero at the end – A basis in a specific culture or society

How Epics Were Told Epics were told orally. They followed basic story lines and incorporated formulaic descriptions. Most of the words were improvised to fit a particular rhythm or meter. Begin with an invocation to the muse Minstrels had to be VERY talented “Formulas” – Homeric epithets: compound adjective regularly used to modify a particular noun (gray-eyed goddess Athena) – Homeric/epic similes: compare heroic/epic events to everyday things

3,000 years ago…. in Ancient Greece, people sat around and told stories about the great Trojan war Later, a man named Homer gathered all these stories together into 2 great epics which became the Iliad and the Odyssey

Homer Later Greeks say he was a blind minstrel Scholars say he’s a legend Either way, he’s a model for the Rhapsodes – the traveling minstrels/mythmakers of the time

The Iliad Tells the story of the ten-year battle at Troy. According to Homer, this war “was fought between the people of Troy and an alliance of Greek kings… caused by sexual jealousy: The world’s most beautiful woman, Helen, abandoned her husband, Menelaus, a Greek king, and ran off with Paris, a prince of Troy” (640).

Reflect Paris is a greedy young man, and much is made of the fatal repercussions of his greed. Is Helen equally guilty, or is she a victim? Explain your answer, and include at least one example each of an adverb and an adjective phrase.

Helen of Sparta/Troy Zeus had relations with a mortal woman and Helen, the “most beautiful woman on earth”, was born Helen married Menelaus, king of Sparta Paris, young Trojan prince, fell in love with her and carried her away Menelaus got help from brother Agamemnon and others Launched 1,000 ships to Troy – “the face that launched a thousand ships” Fought for 10 years but couldn’t get past walls

Wooden Horse Trick Odysseus’s idea Built big wooden horse with hollow belly Left outside gates; pretended to sail away Trojans brought into city At night, Greeks crawled out of it, opened gate, and slaughtered

The Odyssey In brief: the Odyssey is “the story of the attempt of one Greek soldier, Odysseus, to get home after the Trojan War” (640).

Odysseus: A Hero in Trouble Tried to draft-dodge by acting insane – they threw his baby in front of the plow, and he had to reveal his sanity to save his baby Left wife (Penelope) and 2 year old son (Telemachus) at home to fight Hero in Trojan War – thought of famous Wooden Horse trick Now, he just wants to get home