Essays Assignment
The Essay part will present you with various wide-ranging questions, which sum up themes and issues from the whole semester. In total, you will answer 2 questions. Each answer will be at least 300 words long.
All of you will answer the following question:
1."Why do myths, works of art and literature, history and artwork about Greek heroes and heroines furnish such a great opportunity to engage with all the major questions of life and society? Give details."
Additionally, you will answer 1 of the following 5 questions.
1. How do the modern and ancient Greek uses of the word "hero" differ? Why is knowing these differences important for your study of Greek myth?
2. Your little brother likes myth. He tells you he read somewhere that all myths explain things, like the names of areas and cities, and so forth. You know that this isn't entirely true, but you want to encourage him. Cite five examples of mythic etiology from the Perseus story
3. Explain what is meant by this: "If the story of Zeus and Amphitryon does descend from the Egyptian, it is a good example of the 'downgrading' of a traditional tale." What Egyptian tale is being referred to, and what is meant by "downgrading"?
4. Summarize Freud and Bachofen's theory of the slaying of Medusa. What are some of the difficulties with their views?
5. What specific roles do women seem to have played in the life of Heracles? What do these stories indicate about the position of women in Greek society in general?