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Questions and Answers
What are the political, economic, sexual, and cultural boundaries a community is organized around? What are they violated by?
What are the political, economic, sexual, and cultural boundaries a community is organized around? What are they violated by?
Monsters
What does a hero do to the boundaries of a community when he defeats a monster?
What does a hero do to the boundaries of a community when he defeats a monster?
Restores and reaffirms them.
Which of these are famous heroes linked to monsters?
Which of these are famous heroes linked to monsters?
- Hercules (correct)
- Perseus (correct)
- Theseus (correct)
- Odysseus
Who are Heracles' parents?
Who are Heracles' parents?
Who is Alcmene's husband?
Who is Alcmene's husband?
Zeus disguised himself as Alcmene's husband, becoming pregnant with fraternal twins: Heracles and Amphitryon's son Iphicles.
Zeus disguised himself as Alcmene's husband, becoming pregnant with fraternal twins: Heracles and Amphitryon's son Iphicles.
Who was born the same day as Heracles and is descended from Zeus, yet becomes king of Tiryns?
Who was born the same day as Heracles and is descended from Zeus, yet becomes king of Tiryns?
Zeus is solely responsible for the myths and cults devoted to Heracles.
Zeus is solely responsible for the myths and cults devoted to Heracles.
Who is the Delphic oracle to Heracles?
Who is the Delphic oracle to Heracles?
What, according to Propp, are the seven types of characters in folktales?
What, according to Propp, are the seven types of characters in folktales?
How many labors does Heracles have?
How many labors does Heracles have?
Heracles defeats the Nemean lion and wears its skin, making him unique among Greek heroes.
Heracles defeats the Nemean lion and wears its skin, making him unique among Greek heroes.
What are the five labors of Heracles that are often associated with noxious animals?
What are the five labors of Heracles that are often associated with noxious animals?
Why does Heracles's victory over animals at Olympia become the model for athletic games?
Why does Heracles's victory over animals at Olympia become the model for athletic games?
Heracles' struggles with animals challenge the social norms and provide a foundation story for athletic competitions.
Heracles' struggles with animals challenge the social norms and provide a foundation story for athletic competitions.
Heracles's defeat of the Lernaean hydra reinforces the boundary between human and beast, as well as male and female.
Heracles's defeat of the Lernaean hydra reinforces the boundary between human and beast, as well as male and female.
The Lernaean hydra challenges Heracles at the behest of Hera.
The Lernaean hydra challenges Heracles at the behest of Hera.
Heracles' victory over the hydra limits the power of female reproduction and reaffirms Zeus's rule.
Heracles' victory over the hydra limits the power of female reproduction and reaffirms Zeus's rule.
What does Heracles's victory over the Amazons signify?
What does Heracles's victory over the Amazons signify?
Heracles' defeat of Geryon, a three-headed and three-bodied monster, emphasizes the contested boundaries between Greeks and non-Greeks in foreign lands.
Heracles' defeat of Geryon, a three-headed and three-bodied monster, emphasizes the contested boundaries between Greeks and non-Greeks in foreign lands.
Heracles' journey to Erytheia is seen as a link between the Red Sea and the indigenous population of Sicily.
Heracles' journey to Erytheia is seen as a link between the Red Sea and the indigenous population of Sicily.
What does the theft of the apples of the Hesperides, guarded by nymphs and a snake, symbolize?
What does the theft of the apples of the Hesperides, guarded by nymphs and a snake, symbolize?
What creature does Heracles defeat in the underworld to blur the boundaries between mortality and immortality? What is this creature's role?
What creature does Heracles defeat in the underworld to blur the boundaries between mortality and immortality? What is this creature's role?
Greek tragedies often present Heracles in domestic settings, where his strength is a threat to his family and community.
Greek tragedies often present Heracles in domestic settings, where his strength is a threat to his family and community.
What are the events that lead to Heracles's madness in Euripides’s The Madness of Heracles? What happens as a result?
What are the events that lead to Heracles's madness in Euripides’s The Madness of Heracles? What happens as a result?
It is considered that the gods had a hand in Heracles's actions that led to his madness and his desire to commit suicide.
It is considered that the gods had a hand in Heracles's actions that led to his madness and his desire to commit suicide.
What event in Sophocles’ Trachiniae leads to Heracles's death?
What event in Sophocles’ Trachiniae leads to Heracles's death?
What is the final outcome of Heracles's life and his apotheosis into godhood?
What is the final outcome of Heracles's life and his apotheosis into godhood?
How does Perseus encounter Medusa, and how does he ultimately defeat her?
How does Perseus encounter Medusa, and how does he ultimately defeat her?
How does the encounter with Medusa impact Perseus’s reputation?
How does the encounter with Medusa impact Perseus’s reputation?
It is said that Perseus is a distant descendant of Heracles
It is said that Perseus is a distant descendant of Heracles
What does Acrisius do out of fear for his life and to avoid the prophecy that his grandson will kill him?
What does Acrisius do out of fear for his life and to avoid the prophecy that his grandson will kill him?
Who finds Danae and Perseus when they are washed ashore on Seriphos and shelters them? What is their relationship?
Who finds Danae and Perseus when they are washed ashore on Seriphos and shelters them? What is their relationship?
Polydectes, in order to marry Danae, sends Perseus to retrieve the head of Medusa.
Polydectes, in order to marry Danae, sends Perseus to retrieve the head of Medusa.
The Graeae, Medusa’s sisters, refuse help to Perseus and instead put up a challenge that he needs to overcome to receive the information about Medusa.
The Graeae, Medusa’s sisters, refuse help to Perseus and instead put up a challenge that he needs to overcome to receive the information about Medusa.
What are the gifts that the Graeae bestow upon Perseus in order to aid him on his journey?
What are the gifts that the Graeae bestow upon Perseus in order to aid him on his journey?
Medusa is a mortal woman, and her gaze turns mortal men to stone.
Medusa is a mortal woman, and her gaze turns mortal men to stone.
How does Perseus protect himself from Medusa’s gaze during his encounter?
How does Perseus protect himself from Medusa’s gaze during his encounter?
Perseus uses Medusa’s head to protect himself from monsters, including the Titan Atlas.
Perseus uses Medusa’s head to protect himself from monsters, including the Titan Atlas.
Perseus encounters and defeats the sea monster, Cetus, and rescues Andromeda from being sacrificed.
Perseus encounters and defeats the sea monster, Cetus, and rescues Andromeda from being sacrificed.
What is the name of Andromeda’s would-be suitor, who is ultimately turned to stone by Perseus?
What is the name of Andromeda’s would-be suitor, who is ultimately turned to stone by Perseus?
When King Polydectes sends him on a perilous quest for the head of Medusa, what does Perseus do upon returning to Seriphos?
When King Polydectes sends him on a perilous quest for the head of Medusa, what does Perseus do upon returning to Seriphos?
The Delphic oracle predicting Acrisius’s death at the hands of his grandson comes true.
The Delphic oracle predicting Acrisius’s death at the hands of his grandson comes true.
How does Acrisius meet his end?
How does Acrisius meet his end?
What is the defining feature of Medusa that most separates her from humanity?
What is the defining feature of Medusa that most separates her from humanity?
The monster Medusa is associated with Athena’s temple and is said to have been violated by Poseidon.
The monster Medusa is associated with Athena’s temple and is said to have been violated by Poseidon.
Medusa’s death and the emergence of Chrysaor and Pegasus from her neck emphasizes the idea that death can lead to new life.
Medusa’s death and the emergence of Chrysaor and Pegasus from her neck emphasizes the idea that death can lead to new life.
What is Nostos?
What is Nostos?
It is considered that the return of the hero to his wife, the homecoming husband, is a significant aspect of the Greek heroic tradition.
It is considered that the return of the hero to his wife, the homecoming husband, is a significant aspect of the Greek heroic tradition.
Achilles, however, accepts that he will only return to his homeland in stories and that he will likely die in the Trojan War.
Achilles, however, accepts that he will only return to his homeland in stories and that he will likely die in the Trojan War.
The return of the hero to his homeland, wife, and family symbolizes the idea that life can be a cycle and that despite the challenges, there is always a chance to revert to the familiar.
The return of the hero to his homeland, wife, and family symbolizes the idea that life can be a cycle and that despite the challenges, there is always a chance to revert to the familiar.
What is the significance of the hero's wife in the homecoming husband narratives?
What is the significance of the hero's wife in the homecoming husband narratives?
The return of the hero, who is often disguised, is recognized first by the animals of his household, who are untouched by his transformation.
The return of the hero, who is often disguised, is recognized first by the animals of his household, who are untouched by his transformation.
Why is Odysseus compared with Achilles in the Iliad?
Why is Odysseus compared with Achilles in the Iliad?
In the Odyssey, Odysseus is described as deceptive and cunning, what does this suggest about his nature?
In the Odyssey, Odysseus is described as deceptive and cunning, what does this suggest about his nature?
Why does Agamemnon send Odysseus to enlist Achilles in the war effort? What does this say about Odysseus’s character?
Why does Agamemnon send Odysseus to enlist Achilles in the war effort? What does this say about Odysseus’s character?
Odysseus's father Laertes is said to be a descendant of Zeus.
Odysseus's father Laertes is said to be a descendant of Zeus.
Odysseus’s mother, Anticleia, is the daughter of Autolycus who is known for his ability to shape-shift and steal.
Odysseus’s mother, Anticleia, is the daughter of Autolycus who is known for his ability to shape-shift and steal.
What are the qualities of Odysseus that are often associated with Athena?
What are the qualities of Odysseus that are often associated with Athena?
Odysseus’s skills include ship-building, farming, and athleticism.
Odysseus’s skills include ship-building, farming, and athleticism.
Ajax is considered as cunning as Odysseus.
Ajax is considered as cunning as Odysseus.
Odysseus utilizes his skilled rhetoric to persuade the Greeks to accept his Trojan Horse.
Odysseus utilizes his skilled rhetoric to persuade the Greeks to accept his Trojan Horse.
Odyssey is considered a self-serving mentor to Neoptolemus, who is the son of Achilles, and ultimately advises Neoptolemus to seek revenge against the Greeks.
Odyssey is considered a self-serving mentor to Neoptolemus, who is the son of Achilles, and ultimately advises Neoptolemus to seek revenge against the Greeks.
Odysseus is portrayed as cunning in the tragedies of Euripides.
Odysseus is portrayed as cunning in the tragedies of Euripides.
Odysseus’s character is considered 'passive' since he often adopts an attitude of silence and chooses to avoid conflict.
Odysseus’s character is considered 'passive' since he often adopts an attitude of silence and chooses to avoid conflict.
Odysseus is a master strategist, capable of strategizing and planning in difficult situations.
Odysseus is a master strategist, capable of strategizing and planning in difficult situations.
What does Odysseus’s encounter with the sirens suggest about his character?
What does Odysseus’s encounter with the sirens suggest about his character?
Odysseus’s encounter with the Phaeacians is the last part of his long journey before he finally returns home to Ithaca.
Odysseus’s encounter with the Phaeacians is the last part of his long journey before he finally returns home to Ithaca.
Odysseus’s story, the Odyssey, is considered a testament to the power of intelligence and wisdom.
Odysseus’s story, the Odyssey, is considered a testament to the power of intelligence and wisdom.
The Cyclops are described as lawless and brutish people who lack the characteristics of a civilized Greek society.
The Cyclops are described as lawless and brutish people who lack the characteristics of a civilized Greek society.
What is xenia?
What is xenia?
Flashcards
Monster's Role in Society
Monster's Role in Society
Monsters in myths represent societal boundaries; violating these boundaries threatens community
Hero's Role with Monsters
Hero's Role with Monsters
Heroes restore community boundaries by defeating monsters.
Hercules
Hercules
Idealized Greek male hero, known for his twelve labors.
Hercules's Parents
Hercules's Parents
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Hera's Role
Hera's Role
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Eurystheus
Eurystheus
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Twelve Labors
Twelve Labors
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Master of Animals
Master of Animals
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Propp's Morphology
Propp's Morphology
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The Hero
The Hero
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The Villain
The Villain
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The Golden Fleece
The Golden Fleece
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Polyphemus
Polyphemus
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Xenia
Xenia
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Nostos
Nostos
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Odysseus
Odysseus
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Metis
Metis
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Medusa
Medusa
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Perseus
Perseus
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Oedipus
Oedipus
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Clytemnestra
Clytemnestra
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Penelope
Penelope
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Helen
Helen
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Alcestis
Alcestis
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Jason
Jason
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Monomyth
Monomyth
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Heroines
Heroines
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Study Notes
Heroic Quests and Monstrous Encounters
- Monsters represent societal boundaries.
- Heroes restore these boundaries by defeating monsters.
- Hercules, Theseus, and Perseus are examples of heroes linked to monsters.
Heracles
- Parents are Zeus and Alcmene.
- Zeus seduced Alcmene while her husband was away.
- Heracles was a twin brother to Iphicles.
- Hera persecuted Heracles, leading to his labors.
- Heracles performed twelve labors.
- Twelve labors demonstrate his strength and endurance.
- Heracles became a hero and a god.
Heracles's Labors
- Many involved defeating or capturing monsters.
- Labors established boundaries between civilized and uninhabited/wild areas.
- The labors provided models for athletic competitions.
- Labors emphasized Heracles's strength and authority.
- Conflict with Hera as a driver behind the labors.
Master of Animals
- Hercules encountered multiple animals.
- Hercules's association with animals demonstrates dominance and control.
- Hercules was a master of animals; these figures facilitated human-animal relationships.
Propp's Morphology of Folktales
- Analyzed recurrent patterns in fairy tales.
- Identified 31 functions within heroic tales.
- These include recurring characters: hero, villain, helper, etc.
- Propp's analysis connects to other tales about heroes and monsters.
Perseus
- Son of Zeus and Danae; his grandfather was Acrisius.
- Perseus had to complete quests to avoid his grandfather's fate.
- Perseus used his intelligence to defeat Medusa.
- Perseus's quest involves encountering monsters.
- Perseus's actions led to his status as a hero and his place within Greek myth.
The Homecoming Husband
- Heroes encounter significant obstacles on their journeys home.
- "Nostos" (return home) and "nostos" are important themes in Greek narratives.
- Penelope and Odysseus represent significant characters in Greek culture.
Heroines and Heroes
- Women frequently worshipped gods in groups.
- Many heroines had affinities with gods.
- Societal expectations and limitations influenced the lives and actions of women in myths.
- Heroines often overcame societal constraints.
- Females played important roles in tales.
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