Heroic Quests: Hercules and His Labors
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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?

Monsters

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?

  • Hercules (correct)
  • Perseus (correct)
  • Theseus (correct)
  • Odysseus

    • Who are Heracles' parents?

    <p>Zeus and Alcmene</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is Alcmene's husband?

    <p>Amphitryon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Zeus disguised himself as Alcmene's husband, becoming pregnant with fraternal twins: Heracles and Amphitryon's son Iphicles.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was born the same day as Heracles and is descended from Zeus, yet becomes king of Tiryns?

    <p>Eurystheus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Zeus is solely responsible for the myths and cults devoted to Heracles.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the Delphic oracle to Heracles?

    <p>Eurystheus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What, according to Propp, are the seven types of characters in folktales?

    <p>The hero, the false hero, the princess, the villain, the dispatcher, the donor, the helper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many labors does Heracles have?

    <p>Twelve</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heracles defeats the Nemean lion and wears its skin, making him unique among Greek heroes.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the five labors of Heracles that are often associated with noxious animals?

    <p>The Ceryneian hind, the Erymanthian boar, the Cretan bull, the Stymphalian birds, and the man-eating mares of King Diomedes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Heracles's victory over animals at Olympia become the model for athletic games?

    <p>His wrestling match with the Nemean lion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heracles' struggles with animals challenge the social norms and provide a foundation story for athletic competitions.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heracles's defeat of the Lernaean hydra reinforces the boundary between human and beast, as well as male and female.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Lernaean hydra challenges Heracles at the behest of Hera.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heracles' victory over the hydra limits the power of female reproduction and reaffirms Zeus's rule.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Heracles's victory over the Amazons signify?

    <p>The victory of Greek men over non-Greek women.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heracles' defeat of Geryon, a three-headed and three-bodied monster, emphasizes the contested boundaries between Greeks and non-Greeks in foreign lands.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Heracles' journey to Erytheia is seen as a link between the Red Sea and the indigenous population of Sicily.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the theft of the apples of the Hesperides, guarded by nymphs and a snake, symbolize?

    <p>Immortality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What creature does Heracles defeat in the underworld to blur the boundaries between mortality and immortality? What is this creature's role?

    <p>Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of the underworld.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Greek tragedies often present Heracles in domestic settings, where his strength is a threat to his family and community.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the events that lead to Heracles's madness in Euripides’s The Madness of Heracles? What happens as a result?

    <p>Upon returning from his labors, he learns that King Lycus intends to harm his family, leading to the deaths of his wife, children, and even his father. Afterwards, he attempts suicide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    It is considered that the gods had a hand in Heracles's actions that led to his madness and his desire to commit suicide.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What event in Sophocles’ Trachiniae leads to Heracles's death?

    <p>Deianira, out of jealousy for lole, applies a poisonous potion from the blood of the centaur Nessus to Heracles’s clothes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the final outcome of Heracles's life and his apotheosis into godhood?

    <p>He is taken to Mount Olympus by Athena to live as a god</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Perseus encounter Medusa, and how does he ultimately defeat her?

    <p>He visits the Graeae, who are Medusa’s sisters and reveal the location of Medusa. Perseus takes their eye and tooth as hostage, forcing them reveal the location of Medusa’s lair. Perseus then uses his winged sandals, helmet of invisibility, and a bag to cut off Medusa’s head while blindfolded.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the encounter with Medusa impact Perseus’s reputation?

    <p>He becomes known for it, and his reputation eclipses any other aspects of his life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    It is said that Perseus is a distant descendant of Heracles

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Acrisius do out of fear for his life and to avoid the prophecy that his grandson will kill him?

    <p>He locks Danae and Perseus in a chest and sends it out to sea.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who finds Danae and Perseus when they are washed ashore on Seriphos and shelters them? What is their relationship?

    <p>Dictys, brother of Polydectes, the king of Seriphos.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Polydectes, in order to marry Danae, sends Perseus to retrieve the head of Medusa.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the gifts that the Graeae bestow upon Perseus in order to aid him on his journey?

    <p>Winged sandals to fly, a bag to hide Medusa’s head, and a cap to make him invisible.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Medusa is a mortal woman, and her gaze turns mortal men to stone.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Perseus protect himself from Medusa’s gaze during his encounter?

    <p>He uses Medusa’s head as a shield.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Perseus uses Medusa’s head to protect himself from monsters, including the Titan Atlas.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Perseus encounters and defeats the sea monster, Cetus, and rescues Andromeda from being sacrificed.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of Andromeda’s would-be suitor, who is ultimately turned to stone by Perseus?

    <p>Phineus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When King Polydectes sends him on a perilous quest for the head of Medusa, what does Perseus do upon returning to Seriphos?

    <p>He turns Polydectes and the other suitors to stone with Medusa’s gaze.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Delphic oracle predicting Acrisius’s death at the hands of his grandson comes true.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Acrisius meet his end?

    <p>He is killed by a discus thrown by Perseus at an athletic competition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the defining feature of Medusa that most separates her from humanity?

    <p>Her snake-like hair</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The monster Medusa is associated with Athena’s temple and is said to have been violated by Poseidon.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Medusa’s death and the emergence of Chrysaor and Pegasus from her neck emphasizes the idea that death can lead to new life.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Nostos?

    <p>A yearning to return home.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    It is considered that the return of the hero to his wife, the homecoming husband, is a significant aspect of the Greek heroic tradition.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Achilles, however, accepts that he will only return to his homeland in stories and that he will likely die in the Trojan War.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the hero's wife in the homecoming husband narratives?

    <p>She is often the one who awaits his return and is a symbol of loyalty, patience, and resilience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The return of the hero, who is often disguised, is recognized first by the animals of his household, who are untouched by his transformation.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is Odysseus compared with Achilles in the Iliad?

    <p>They’re both heroes, but Odysseus is driven by cunning and intelligence, while Achilles is motivated by rage and honor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the Odyssey, Odysseus is described as deceptive and cunning, what does this suggest about his nature?

    <p>He’s resourceful and capable of adapting to many different situations, which makes him a survivor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Agamemnon send Odysseus to enlist Achilles in the war effort? What does this say about Odysseus’s character?

    <p>Agamemnon sees Odysseus as a skilled orator, believing that he can convince Achilles to return with gifts and flattery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus's father Laertes is said to be a descendant of Zeus.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus’s mother, Anticleia, is the daughter of Autolycus who is known for his ability to shape-shift and steal.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the qualities of Odysseus that are often associated with Athena?

    <p>Cunning intelligence, resourcefulness, and talent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus’s skills include ship-building, farming, and athleticism.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ajax is considered as cunning as Odysseus.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus utilizes his skilled rhetoric to persuade the Greeks to accept his Trojan Horse.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus is portrayed as cunning in the tragedies of Euripides.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus’s character is considered 'passive' since he often adopts an attitude of silence and chooses to avoid conflict.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus is a master strategist, capable of strategizing and planning in difficult situations.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Odysseus’s encounter with the sirens suggest about his character?

    <p>He’s capable of learning from them while resisting their enchantments, demonstrating his strength of will and his ability to acknowledge the allure of potential danger without succumbing to it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus’s encounter with the Phaeacians is the last part of his long journey before he finally returns home to Ithaca.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Odysseus’s story, the Odyssey, is considered a testament to the power of intelligence and wisdom.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Cyclops are described as lawless and brutish people who lack the characteristics of a civilized Greek society.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is xenia?

    <p>The ancient Greek tradition of hospitality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    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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    Description

    Explore the heroic journeys of Hercules and his iconic twelve labors. This quiz highlights how these mythical encounters with monsters illustrate societal boundaries and the journey to heroism. Test your knowledge of the legendary feats and their significance in Greek mythology.

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