Promethean Myth
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Alison Aitken, Tara Anglican School for Girls, 2013
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Frankenstein is known as “Frankenstein; or, the
Modern Prometheus”
It can be argued that both texts explore ideas
which relate back to this Greek myth.
Why is it relevant?
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Prometheus was a titan
Known for his intelligence, wit and trickiness.
He was known for thinking about the future
Useful story time version:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/greece/mstory-prometheus-fire.htm
Prometheus Who?
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King of the Gods and man
Father figure
He oversaw the universe
Zeus
Zeus forbid the use of fire
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Prometheus stole fire
back for humanity
Prometheus defied
Zeus!
But, Prometheus stole it back
http://debramoolenaar.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/prometheus-zeus.gif
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The fire Prometheus stole
enabled the progress of
civilisation
(Think where humans
would be without fire!!)
The fire = human progress
http://www.mssprojectsanalytics.com/blog/bid/237766/Primavera-P6-Release-8-2-Progress-Line-on-the-Gantt-Chart
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Zeus punished
Prometheus for his
defiance of Zeus with…
Eternal torment…
Punishment
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Bound to a rock
Eagle would eat his liver each day
Prometheus’ liver would regenerate every night
The eagle would return, daily
http://www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/prometheus-fire-myth/
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human striving
progress of civilisation
quest for scientific knowledge
the risk of overreaching
unintended consequences
the lone genius whose efforts to improve
human existence could also result in tragedy
(particularly in the Romantic era)
Champion of humanity
Prometheus has come to
represent…
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How might the Promethean myth relate to
Frankenstein?
How might it relate to Blade Runner?
Complete Page 6 in your booklets, now!
Time to think: