What Do Myths and Legends Teach Us About Society? Feature Menu Myths and Legends Heroes and Quests Norse Myths Arthurian Legends Romantic Literature Archetypes Your Turn

Myths and Legends Myths are traditional stories rooted in a particular culture. A myth . . . is basically religious in nature serves to explain beliefs, rituals, or natural phenomena reveals the ideals and values of a society Myths vs. Folk tales

Myths vs. Folk Tales Folk tales are similar to myths, but they are not religious. They are told to teach lessons . . . . . . and to entertain.

Myths and Legends Throughout history, people have used myths to explain . . . the creation of the world events and elements in nature ancient religious beliefs and practices

Myths and Legends A legend is a story about extraordinary deeds based on a real historical event or person. Because legends are told and retold, they often take on fantastic, supernatural elements.

Myths and Legends extraordinary deeds explanation of natural phenomena Quick Check extraordinary deeds explanation of natural phenomena scientific proofs gods and goddesses fantastic, supernatural elements confusion about values Which two elements do not appear in myths or legends? [End of Section]

Myths and Legends extraordinary deeds explanation of natural phenomena Quick Check extraordinary deeds explanation of natural phenomena scientific proofs gods and goddesses fantastic, supernatural elements confusion about values Which two elements do not appear in myths or legends?

Heroes and Quests In myths and legends, a hero or a heroine is extraordinary in several ways: In a myth, a hero is often descended from the gods. The hero faces a seemingly impossible task. He or she accepts the task with courage, ingenuity, and often superhuman strength.

Heroes and Quests Heroes often set out on a quest—a journey or a test to find something of great significance. In Greek mythology, the hero Theseus goes on a quest to slay the Minotaur, a monster devouring the youth of Athens. [End of Section]

The Major Greek Gods and Goddesses The Olympians

The Olympians

ZEUS (Jupiter, Jove) Roman name Jupiter or Jove Zeus was the supreme god of the Olympians He was in charge of the sky and weather. (He shot lightening bolts.) Had many affairs with mortal women (who bore heroes)

Hera (Juno) Roman name Juno Queen of the Olympian gods. Sister and wife of Zeus. Goddess of marriage, wealth Very jealous of her husband’s affairs

APHRODITE (Venus) Roman name Venus goddess of love, beauty; and fertility protectress of sailors. Her son was Eros, whose Roman name was Cupid married to Hephaestus, the lame god of blacksmithing

ARES (Mars) Roman name Mars Ares was the god of offensive war He had an affair with Aphrodite Cruel and bloodthirsty Called the “Red God”

HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan) Roman name Vulcan Hephaestus was the lame god of fire and metal crafts (of blacksmiths) He was the only ugly god Workshop under a volcano God of volcanoes Made armor for the gods and heroes

ARTEMIS (Diana) Roman name Diana Goddess of the moon, the hunt, and wild animals Apollo’s twin Goddess of women in childbirth Could bring sudden death with her arrows.

DIONYSUS (Bacchus) Roman name Bacchus Dionysus was the god of grapes/wine and fertility God of drama and theater Plays were performed in his honor His festival in Rome was called the “Bacchanalia” sometimes portrayed as a satyr in later Greek and Roman history.

HERMES (Mercury) Roman name Mercury Hermes was the messenger of the gods and guide of dead souls to the Underworld. God of travelers and theives He wore winged sandals and carried a snake-winged scepter

POSEIDON (Neptune) Roman name Neptune Poseidon was the god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses. Sons named Triton and Proteus Over mermen and mermaids Over all sea monsters was officially one of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he spent most of his time in his watery domain.

APOLLO (Apollo) Roman name Apollo Apollo was the god of the sun and twin to Artemis He was also the god who controlled prophesy, music, the arts, healing, athletes, and poetry.

ATHENA (Minerva) Roman name Minerva Athena was the goddess of defensive war Goddess of wisdom, and and the domestic arts (weaving) she was the patron goddess of Athens. Her symbol was the owl She sprang fully grown and dressed in armor from Zeus’s head

DEMETER (Ceres) Roman name Cerus Demeter was the goddess of agriculture and the harvest She was the sister of Zeus and the mother of Persephone She is the reason we have seasons

HESTIA (Vesta) Goddess of the hearth and home Every Greek home had an altar to her in their homes Over domestic harmony and family

HADES (Pluto) Roman name Pluto Hades was the God of the Dead and ruler of the Underworld (which was called Hades after the god) Hades abducted Persephone, who became his queen Like Poseidon, he did not live on Mt. Olympus, but rather in Hades itself.

PERSEPHONE (Proserpina) Roman name Pluto Daughter of Demeter Goddess of the spring Kidnapped by Hades and made his wife Queen of the Underworld

IRIS (Iris) Goddess of the rainbow Messenger goddess Messages delivered by rainbow

HEBE (Juventas) Goddess of youth and children Over children and learning Guarded children in sleep and illness

HERCULES (Heracles) Hercules-was son of Zeus and a mortal woman Was a hero Made a god at his death God of strength

CHRONUS (KRONOS) Titan god Ruler of the Titans Defeated by Zeus and the Olympians God of Time

THE MUSES Nine goddesses who served Apollo Over the arts, poetry, history, and music

The Fates Three goddesses who controlled the fates of gods and men

The Furies Three goddesses who were sent by the Olympian gods to punish people on earth

In Literature, what is a hero? 1. A person—usually a male-- noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life.

2. In mythology and legend, a hero is a man, often of divine ancestry, who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for his bold exploits, and favoured by the gods.

3. The principal male character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation.

Characteristics of a hero: Brave High values Strong leader Honest Courageous Trustworthy Good communicator Motivated Extraordinary Talent Inspirational Confident Strength Hopeful Adventurous Responsible to others Positive Intelligent Good Role Model

Heroines A woman noted for courage and daring action. A woman noted for special achievement in a particular field. The principal female character in a novel, poem, or dramatic presentation. Many writers now consider hero, long restricted to men in the sense "a person noted for courageous action," to be a gender-neutral term. It is used to refer to admired women as well as men in respected publications.

Norse Myths Norse myths are traditional stories of the people of ancient Scandinavia and Germany. Norse mythology includes hero tales, called sagas. Sagas are part of the Norse oral storytelling tradition.

Norse Myths Scandinavia Germany 41

Norse Myths In one myth, the hero Sigurd, the most famous Norse hero, gets help in his quest from Odin, the principal Norse God. “I gave your father a sword,” said Odin as they watched the great creature breasting the flood. “Now I give you this horse. Ride out and win fame. . . . heroes shall rise to greet you as the greatest one of them all.” From "The Dragon Slayer" and "Fafnir's End" from Legends of the North by Olivia E. Coolidge. Copyright 1951 by Olivia E. Coolidge. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company, www.hmco.com. [End of Section]

Arthurian Legends Arthurian legends are stories about King Arthur and the brave, powerful, and adventurous knights of the Round Table. The medieval hero King Arthur was considered a great fighter and defender of his land.

Arthurian Legends The Arthurian legends are probably based on a fifth or sixth-century Celtic chieftain who lived in Wales. This legendary king led his people to victory against invaders from Germany.

Arthurian Legends The Celts In the first millennium B.C., the Celtic people were the main culture inhabiting central and western Europe. Dominating the area, they passed on their customs and religion, as well as their language to other ethnic groups in the region. 45

Arthurian Legends Great Britain Europe Wales 46

Arthurian Legends The following excerpt describes Arthur’s first heroic task—pulling a sword out of a stone in which it had been lodged. “Why,” said Arthur, “do you kneel before me?” “My lord,” Sir Ector replied, “there is only one man living who can draw the sword from the stone, and he is the true-born king of Britain.” From “The Sword in the Stone” from Le Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, translated by Keith Baines. Translation copyright © 1962 by Keith Baines; copyright renewed © 1990 by Francesca Evans. Reproduced by permission of Dutton Signet, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., www.penguin.com.

Norse Myths and Arthurian Legends Quick Check Match each numbered item to its literary genre. a hero or heroine sagas the god Odin quests a famous round table knights an impossible task Norse myths Arthurian legends Probably both [End of Section]

Norse Myths and Arthurian Legends Quick Check Match each numbered item to its literary genre. a hero or heroine sagas the god Odin quests a famous round table knights an impossible task C A A Norse myths Arthurian legends Probably both C B B C

Romantic Literature The legends of King Arthur are part of the larger genre of Romantic literature. These legends developed in twelfth- century England and France and focus on the adventures of knights and other heroes. Romantic vs. romantic

Romantic Literature Romantic vs. romantic The terms Romantic (capitalized) and romantic (lower case) have different meanings. However, Romantic literature specifically refers to those tales and legends coming from the era of knights and the code of chivalry. The love story, one of several genres of entertainment reading, is romantic literature. 51

Romantic Literature The medieval romance celebrates the ideals of chivalry—the code of behavior a knight followed. A knight was expected to be . . . brave honorable generous to his foes respectful of women protective of the weak

Romantic Literature The stories of Romantic literature are still enjoyed today. Such tales feature love and loyalty, often with elements of magic or enchantment. In “The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake,” the hero commits to helping the king’s daughter. [End of Section]

Archetypes An archetype is a plot pattern, image, or character type that appears throughout literature. One example of an archetype is the hero, who faces formidable enemies and physical challenges or goes on a quest. More about archetypes

Archetypes You are probably already familiar with many archetypal characters in literature and pop culture. the loyal sidekick . . . as Robin is to Batman . . . the tough guy with a heart of gold . . . the undervalued and overlooked sweet girl . . . 55

Archetypes As you read myths and legends, use a graphic organizer like the one below to track archetypal qualities. Quest Outcome of quest Conflict Hero/Heroine Divine intervention Superhuman qualities

Romantic Literature and Archetypes Quick Check 1. What other traits were included in the code of chivalry? 1.Knights in the medieval era pledged to be honorable and to protect the weak. 2. One archetypal pattern is the plot type in which a hero goes on a quest. 2. What kind of help is a hero likely to have during the quest? [End of Section]

Romantic Literature and Archetypes Quick Check 1. What other traits were included in the code of chivalry? 1.Knights in the medieval era pledged to be honorable and to protect the weak. to be brave to be respectful of women to be generous to foes

Romantic Literature and Archetypes Quick Check 2. One archetypal pattern is the plot type in which a hero goes on a quest. 2. What kind of help is a hero likely to have during the quest? A god or goddess might help—divine intervention. A magical object or being might help.

Analyze Myths and Legends Your Turn Think of a hero or heroine from literature or film and apply your knowledge of the archetypal hero. Use the following questions as a guide: What is the hero’s or heroine’s quest? What heroic qualities does the character possess to overcome the challenge(s)? What conflicts does the hero overcome? What is the outcome? [End of Section]

The End