Myths and LegendsSept. 29TH

SWBAT present their creation myths / Discuss what characteristics a one must possess in order to be a hero (for a day).

PLEASE MOVE OUR SEATS

Today

• I will hand back work today.

Presentations – Let us celebrate your creation myth!!• 1. Trystan and Ian• 2. Zabini• 3. Charlie• 4. Sam• 5. Navotta• 6. Alana Lyons• 7. Erik and Jeremy

Extra for Creation myths - The Medicine MythWhat do you think this myth teaches one to respect?

Why do you think this Native American culture would have a myth like this?

What myths (old or modern) do you know of that seem to fit the society’s morals?

Leaving the land of creation – 5 minutes

1. If you had to choose one myth from our classmates to take with you to a new world, which one would it be? Explain why in detail. (One paragraph on notebook paper. Please put your name on it)

REMEMBER: MYTHS TEACH US ABOUT THINGS WE CANNOT TRULY EXPLAIN IN THE WORLD AROUND US. IT ALSO HELPS US BE MORAL BEINGS.

Handing back work / Do Now

•For the next five minutes I will hand back work. While I do so, write down who a hero is in your own life and tell me why. It can be a person you know, or a person you have heard of.

Heroes – Work in groups of 4 with chart paper (We will report out) Number off in 7s

1. How would you define a hero? 2. What characteristics must they display in order to be a hero?3. Who would you say is a modern day hero? (Link them to a

characteristic on your chart)

Humility (Martin Luther King)

Definition of a Hero

Captain Sully – The Hero• As we read the article about a hero, underline phrases that stick out

to you about what it takes to be a hero. We will report out. • Do you believe all of these qualities are important in order to be a

true hero?

Heracles / Hercules

• We will read a version of the tale of Heracles and then watch a video about him. http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/hercules/videos/hercules-and-the-12-labors

• Discussion: What makes Heracles a hero? By reading about a Greek and Roman hero, what qualities do you think those cultures valued most? Why do you think that is?

• Do you think Heracles would still be considered a true hero in today’s society? What would we need to change up?

Heracles / Hercules

Next 3 minutes

• I will return work.

Heracles

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPtZ4OO089I

• We will begin to decipher today what makes a hero in mythology. Take notes! We will have a quiz at the end of next week.

How is Heracles a hero??

Heracles is an illegitimate child. (His mother Alcmene was taken by Zeus. He tricked her into thinking he was her husband.)Ok, her husband is at war, and she is waiting for his return…he comes back, or so she thinks. It’s actually Zeus in disguise. Then her husband comes back the next day and she realizes THE TRUTH!

Jealous Women• Hera, Zeus’ wife…and of course, sister, will have none of it.

In fact, she makes sure when Hercules' mother, Alcmene is due to give birth to him, the goddess of childbearing crosses her own legs and hands, a form of sympathetic magic, in order to block Hercules' entrance to the world of light. This isn't just to punish Alcmene for having had an affair with her husband Zeus. Hera also wants to make sure Perseus' grandson Eurystheus is born before Alcmene's son, because Zeus has promised the first born son of his and Perseus' blood would become king.

The name Herakles

•Alcmene tries to be nice and name her son Herakles. •Hera (Wife and sister of Zeus) •Kles (Glory) •Translation - GLORY OF HERA!

Hera will have none of it! She does the whole breast milk thing, and even sends some snakes to kill him. …but Herakles has some natural talent.

The world is against me!!!

• He is an illegitimate child who could have become king, but you know, his mother was delayed with giving birth all due to Hera.

• Hera can’t get over the affair, so she is out to kill the this half God / half man.

• THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GRIM FOR HERAKLES.

I’d feel bad for you but…

Heracles has great strength which he uses for better or worse at various times in his life.

For example, when he was a child he accidentally killed his music tutor with a lyre when he was told he made errors in his playing. (Tell that to the WPHS music department)

The CHOICE!

• He is sent to tend cattle, because he is hard to handle (the strength bit), and then he is visited by nymphs. They ask if he wants the easy and simple life, or the harsh and glorious life.

• He picks the latter….maybe that is because he had it so rough as a baby he really needs to prove himself! Would you??

Herakles• He kills his family due to Hera’s evil spell, but proves himself to be a

man / half-God willing to take the challenge of redeeming himself by taking on the twelve labors. He is wracked with guilt!• He journeys in to far off lands, and succeeds in all the tasks. Yes,

there is some collateral damage along the way, but he truly GOES THE DISTANCE.

Deianeira

• He is redeemed, but tragedy hits again when his new wife Deianeira gives him a tunic that she thinks will cause everlasting love, but instead causes him to burn. (She thought he was having an affair…hence the gift of love)

• However, he is a demigod, so he doesn’t die! However, he is in pain, and takes fate into his own hands and has a friend build a funeral pyre for him so he can commit suicide.

Bye Bye Herakles

• Hera FINALLY forgives Herakles, and he is made a GOD!!! He even gets married again!• But……the mortal part of himself does go down to the Elysian Field,

the underworld, where heroes and the virtuous reside.He is there still, right now. …as we speak, in this third period!

Why is Herakles a hero? Show you are sorry!! • He faced great odds in life, but didn’t walk away, and took up the

challenge to repent his greatest sins. (Yes, he made mistakes, but we all do…and WE TOO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.) He really shows that he will do anything to repent his sins. • (And was it even his fault that he was so strong? You would be too if

you were Zeus’ kid)• (And was it his fault that he killed his family? He had an evil

stepmother!...Cinderella should never complain.)

Where do we even get these Greek Myths?Starting around 1400 and 2300 BCE• A lot of Greek myths come from territories outside of Greece. There

was much travel and trade, so they were getting stories from elsewhere such as in the Near Eastern civilizations. They were also invaded, so a lot of myths became combinations from various peoples.

• Let us thank Hesiod, a poet, for writing some of these myths down for us! 750 – 650 BC. (However, not Herakles.) And yes, the Iliad and Odyssey are written down by Homer.

Herakles

• Ovid was the first to write about this great hero around the year 1000 BC and, several hundred years later, the 5th century poet Euripides added to his legacy with perhaps the most famous version of the story. Even among experts, there are many varying versions of the classic mythological tales. Hercules, being one of the most popular heroes of the day, was also one of the most chronicled and each region had its own version of his adventures.

Hercules

In the Movie... In the Mythology... The Movie Deviates Because...

•Hercules means well but his clumsiness and tremendous strength causes him to accidently destroy things.

•Hercules often lost control of his temper, causing him to accidently kill innocent people.

•To the modern audience, a hero with anger management problems is not as endearing a character nor as positive a role model as someone who has good intentions but clumsy tendencies.

Hercules

•Hercules is often socially awkward, shy and lacking in confidence.

•Because of his god-like strength, Hercules was supremely confident and even saw himself as equal to the gods.

•The awkward and unsure Hercules is a more relatable character for the modern audience, especially for people who, like the Disney Hercules, are trying to find their worth and place in the world.

From Mythology to Disney

With a partner, look up on your phones the differences between the myth and the Disney version. We will report out. Scroll to find one that captures your interest to speak about.

http://dettoldisney.wordpress.com/2012/01/01/hercules-vs-heracles/

Exit ticket

•Do you believe Herakles is a true hero? Explain your answer in one paragraph.

•Please make several points about why either the Disney version or the real myth shows us a true hero.