The Great Families of Mythology

So I skipped yesterday!  For those of you who have been checking in, sorry.  I am currently directing VBS for my church.  It starts this week, so I have pretty much been living there. 

This is my idea for the Great Families- the last section you are required to read from this book.  The devoted students who have been checking this site, and want to start off the year ahead- You write this section. 

In the comments section or through email, send me your annotations and I will post them.  You can either remain unnamed or named, just let me know.  This is a great way to practice talking about your ideas and insights. 

Those of you out there who are not in my class, but have been checking in everyday, feel to add comments for posting.  If you know anything about mythology and its application to literature, my students would definately benifit from it!

Oh yeah- I know it has been a while since this question was asked, but I am Mrs. Mueller from Central High School in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Let's Get Busy!!!

More Mythology Ramblings

We will begin today with a note on Polyphemus.  While he did devour many of Odysseus men, you still have to feel sorry for the guy after you read the rest of his story.  He is obviously ugly, then he has his only eye burned out (perhaps it eventually recovers, but he still has one eye), and he is tormented by a nymph!  Can there be no happiness for this guy? In the end he is killed by a jealous lover of the nymph (that is some jealousy!). (88-89)

Page 89- In the introduction to the "Flower Myths" Hamilton refers to the difference between thinking of the subject and thinking of the audience.  What is the difference in writing?  Which do you think is most important? Audience? or Subject?

Page 90 (and much of this myth)- is a great example of imagery and showing not telling writing.  Hamilton incoporates the imagery of the poets in her own story telling.  It is also clearly revealed in the excerpts: "A profusion of delight,/ Gay, bewilderingly bright,"

Page 95- By the end of the flower myths I hope you have noticed who is ultimately responsible (even if by accident) for the deaths of these youths-- a god.  This is just more evidence that at one time there were mostlikely human sacrifices to these gods, and these flower myths cover that ugly tale.

"Eight Brief Tales of Lovers"

Page 105- You may recognize this tale if you have read A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Based on what you read about these lovers, why do you think Shakespeare chose this play as the "second" play in his comedy?  Does it remind you of any other Shakespeare play?

Page 107- "Orpheus and Eurydice"- In the introduction to this tale Hamilton (as she has done before) reveals that she will be using the Latin names.  This is an indication that she attempts to remain as true to the orginal tales as possible. 

At the bottom of this page we are informed that Orpheus has a voice to rival the gods.  If you haven't learned by now, this is a forshadow to an early death.  On page 108 we learn how powerful his music was- it could inspire, relax, and overpower the Sirens (something not even Odysseus and his crew couldn't do). 

Page 109- Please note this power to make the Furies cry as they will appear as a force that could cause the doom of Dante and Virgil in the Inferno. 

Of course when man is given a condition he will always break it!  As readers we hold our breath waiting for Orpheus to look back and hoping he will not (suspense-forshadow).

We we read the Inferno remember that in Roman mythology mortals had been allowed, with special permission , to enter the world of the dead.

"Ceyx and Alcyone"

I don't have too much to say about this myth, except this is a popular story and we can find the root here.  What I would like to point out on page 111 is the parallel structure, "No cock crows there; no watchdog breaks the silence; no branches brustle in the breeze; no clamor of tongues disturb the peace."  This is syntax; how words and phrases are placed in a sentence.  Again, along with diction, something you should pay attention to when reading analytically.  What is the affect of this structure in the story? 

Page 114- The story of Pygmalion I always enjoy; until the end when she actually becomes real.  I like the irony that his greatest work is a statue of a woman.

"Baucis and Philemon"

It's always fun to see what the gods will do when they get bored with their beautiful existance.  Makes them seem a little petty.  This is a traditional story and may beliefs have similar tales. 

Page 117- you can not miss the tone of the first paragraph.  Ovid is sarcastic.  These gods are watching and ENJOYING ("...watched them greatly entertained.") these poor people stress over the feeding of these two gods. 

The story of Endymion is a familiar story.  The Moon gets whats she wants, but is tortured by it in the end.  Again, a god takes the life of a youth.

Notice that "Daphne" and "Alpheus and Arethusa" are very similar stories.  I am sure that at one point they were the same.

I now have only The Great Families of Mythology to write about, so it seems like a good time for a break.  To my students: I posed several questions in this entry; I will give you points for posting your own comments and emailing them to me.  You can get even more by responding to comments made by others and going through the other entries to address questions.  This is great practice for the school year and a great opportunity to discuss with your classmates!

Finally!!! I'm updating!

Okay, so it has been nearly a month since I last updated this blog, and for those of you who have been checking you are probably tired of reading the same stuff over and over again! So I will try to appease you.

So it appears that I left off on page 72 of Mythology to get something to eat.  Really I haven't been eating that long.  Of course at five months pregnant (and definately showing it) I feel like I have been eating that long!!!  As I look back over these notes (it has been over a month since I read this section) it is interesting to decipher my notes. 

After commenting on the five stages of man, we jump again to Zues and the creations of women.  I always enjoy reading this story and similar beliefs about the creation on women.  It seems like women get the blame for all the problems in the universe; however, it is interesting to note (as I am sure I do later in the reading) that women are the only people who can usually work out the problems of men! 

Page 72- I noted that it was funny (and perhaps a bit ironic) that Zues created women punish man and then he ended up "loving" nearly every beautiful maiden he laid eyes on.  Punishment or Pleasue?  Depending on which story you read, Zues ends up punishing himself quite frequently.

Also on page 72 we learn that Prometheus definately has a thing for the underdog.  He is spared by Zues because he takes his side in the fight against the Titans (the gods were the underdogs and treated unjustly) and then he sides for man against Zues (again for the same reasons.  I like this guy; he of course is severly punished for his crime; but, hey, we get the good stuff! (Irony perhaps?  Zues most likely believed that by sparing "forethought" originally he would always have an intellegent being on his side.)

As we continue to page 73, we notice an important cycle.  Prometheus is not only punished because of his relationship to man, but also because of a prophecy, one similar to the prophecy given Zues father.  Zues will someday produce a son who will dethrone him. 

Page 74- There is a cool metaphor (extended) that we don't want to pass up: "Go and persuade a sea wave not to break./ you will persuade me no more easily."  Super!  so do you think Prometheus will reveal the prophecy?  Well, according to this vivid image NO!  It's kind of like saying- "Does a chicken have lips?"

While on the subject of literary devices and images, lets look at word choice or diction.  Hermes reveals to Prometheus the form his torture will take.  He could say he will tear your body to pieces (pretty gross) and eat your liver.  That would not be good and we would get the point.  But NOOOO it is worse than tearing to pieces and eating.  Prometheus will be torn to RAGS!  What is the image?  He will be shredded!  That is not a good thing.  And the eagle will not just eat at his liver, he will feast.  Feast with FURY!  This isn't going to be pleasant.  The diction is meant to create a since of doom and terror for the reader.  Prometheus suffered at the hands of an angry Zues, not a little but immensly.  This is a lesson; this is what happens when you defy the gods.  Even though this verse is translated into English, the importance of the diction cannot be missed.  The denotation of the words is simple and scary enough, but the connatation, the emotion evoked by the choice of words creates the image and the affect.  This is something you should truly look at when reading Frankenstein.

Moving from my metaphor/imagery/diction mini-lecture let's turn to page 76.  At the bottom of the page we have a Deluge or Flood.  This is important to note; a flood is a archetype.  A flood of this magnitude occurs in all religions and cultures (the story of Noah, some of you may have read the Native American myth from the Junior text).  Because of this and other scientific evidence, it is believed that there was once a great flood.  Most of the floods occur in beliefs for the same reasons- purification.  The earth and inhabitants have become so corrupt that we must begin again.  This makes the archetype- similar pattern for similar reasons not diminished in time, place, or culture.  Most everyone understands the meaning of the flood.

Page 77- Notice the repetition of the number nine here.  This indicates a pattern and something important to the culture.  Anyone who will look this up post a comment and email me the evidence suggesting the importance of the number nine in Greek/Roman mythology will recieve bonus points (you of course need to be one of my students).

Still on page 77- more on the Flood.  Think of how this story relates to any other flood story you have heard.  What seems to be important for survival?

Chapter 4- "The Earliest Heroes"

It seems like I don't have much to comment on until page 81.  This is for those of you reading Sophie's World, what a gad-fly is is important.  It appears often in the novel, as do many allusions to mythology.

Page 81- In my last entry I noted that information of Hercules seemed to be a little sketchy.  It seems that there was actually two Hercules, one who appeared before and man and one after.  This is again part of the changes that Hamilton points out.  If you read the story of Hercules, you will see that there are two sides to this one man and one of them is very different from the Disney version (I truly encourage you to read his chapter).  There was probably one Hercules at on point, but as expectations evolved so did Hercules.

Page 82- The imagery in the story of Europa is always sweet on the senses.  Let's not over look the beautiful and dangerous simile- "Europe shone out among them as the Goddess of Love outshines the sister Graces."  It always seems nice to be compared to the Goddess of Love, but it never turns out good.  However, the fate of Europe was not as terrible as I first expected, given the history of the comparison.

Page 84- It is always fun to look at irony, especially when it is dramatic.  Kind of like we are in on a joke that someone else is left out of.  Dramatic irony is also a suspense builder.  So here it is: "He is not like a bull, but a good, true man,/ Except he cannot speak."  Remember Zues is not a man, he is a god!  And even if he was, from his history with women, he definately isn't true.  It's a trick; get out!!!

Page 87-Some more fun with diction: at the bottom of the page, "But Odysseus was too angry to leave in prudent silence."  Considering what happens next (this story leaves out some of the details revealed in the Odyssey, so try to remember from your Freshman year) why is prudent more effective than silence alone.  Look at the meaning and how does it impact the story?

Unfortunatly, I have to stop here.  I began responding to student emails at 9:00 this morning and it is now 4:45pm.  I have enjoyed spending the day focusing on my class, but I know have to feed the kids (and my bell)!  Until tomorrow- Mrs. Mueller