Unit 2 Myths and Legends

Section I: Preparation• Brainstorming• Focus: Greek mythsSection II: (questions based)

• In-Class Reading • After-Class ReadingSection III: • Part III: E1: vocabulary• Part IV: Translation

Preparation: brainstorming

Brainstorming “myths”: (vocabulary)• Myth Mythology Legend (legendary)• Folktale fable fairytale allegory Epic (Homer)

Brainstorming your myths or legends (chatting time)

Brainstorming “world myths”• Biblical stories• Greek pantheon• American legends• Indian myths• Chinese Fables• …

Preparation: Focus on Greek myths / Tragedies

• Icarus• Medea (Euripides) • Prometheus Bound (Aeschylus)

Icarus

• The story: listen; read• Reflection on the story: be critical or not hints: ---on generation gap ---on free will (to breath through or to obey conventions?) ---Tragedy means… ---metaphorically for early “flying” dreams ---if I were Icarus ---…

• Recommend: to read more about Icarus; to see the movie Icarus (2010) and see how truly the spirit of Icarus was reflected in it;

Medea (Euripides)• The story: read; see• Reflection on the story: be critical or not hints: ---to justify / to condemn Medea’s slaying her sons ---to justify / to condemn Medea’s betrayal of her father and pe

ople ---on free will ---Tragedy means… ---A comparison between Medea and … ---if I were Medea ---…

• Recommend: to read more about GK tragedy. Esp.: Oedipus the King—Sophocles Medea---Euripides Prometheus Bound ---Aeschylus

Prometheus Bound (Aeschylus)

• The story: read; song• Reflection on the story: be critical or not hints: ---who’s right: Zeus or Prometheus? ---on free will ---if I were Prometheus ---Tragedy means…

• Recommend: to read more about Prometheus Prometheus the Fire Giver Prometheus Bound Prometheus Unbound

Reading

• In-Class Reading Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth• After-Class ReadingI: Beauty and the BeastII: The Monkey King

ICR: Why the Tortoise’s Shell Is Not Smooth

The author (Chinua Achebe: a Nigerian novelist)

Students’ questions:

My questions: What does the tortoise symbolize? (those who…) What does the broken shell symbolize? Why did the bird fall into his trap anyway? (turning point in Para. 6) What is the moral of this fable / folk story?

Language: learn the new words in your way Exercise: vocabulary & translation

ACR: I: Beauty and the Beast

• Movie episode: Beauty and Beast • Students’ questions: 会计 国贸• more fairy tales: a recommendation on reading and m

ovies (The Princess and the Frog / Shrek / (Ugly Betty )/ Any

Chinese versions of “ugly” beauty? )• （ optional ） Criticizing the tale: --If you were Beauty / the beast… --Do you think that’s true love? …• Language: Some new words ---- E2, P75

ACR: II: The Monkey King

• translation: A Journey to the West / Monkey

• Students’ questions ：会计 国贸• Be critical: At who’s side are you? (heaven’s / monkey’s )• Language: E2 P88

A suggestion: You might have obtained a lot of

favorable topic for writing from the above discussions.

Part IIIPart IIIPart IIIPart IIIE1E1 ， ， P89-91P89-91(optional); E5: translation (optional); E5: translation

Part IV Translation

To probe into the examples on your own.