UNIT: Mythology
Entry One: Character Relationships
Good readers recognize that characters are developed through the
relationships they have with other characters. Good readers learn a lot about
characters from how characters behave in relationships and recognize that
conflicts can be caused by flawed relationships.
Class: Using what you learned from The Greek Gods of Mt. Olympus video and
the information discussed in class, create a family tree showing the
relationships and connections between the many characters of Greek
Mythology. Did any flaws in the relationship cause conflict? If so, explain.
Home: Using your independent reading book, observe and analyze the
relationships between the characters. Why are these relationships important?
Are they positive relationships? Why? Negative? Why? Explain. Give specific
details from the text to support your response.
Entry Two: Purpose
Good readers understand that authors have a variety of purposes for writing.
Authors write to entertain, to inform, to persuade. Sometimes, authors have
multiple purposes. For example, they may write an entertaining story, but may
also use the story to teach readers an important lesson.
Class: Read the story “Arachne”. Using what you know about mythology,
identify the purpose of the story? Use specific examples from the text to
explain how the myth meets the purpose you stated.
Home: Now that you more clearly understand authors’ purposes for writing,
read your independent reading book and consider why the author of your
book wrote this story. What do you believe was the author’s intended purpose
for you – the reader? What can the reader take away from the story? Explain
using specific details from the story.
Entry Three: Character Traits
Good readers observe characters and are able to identify a character’s traits.
They recognize that even a positive character trait (such as pride) can be
conceived as negative if it exists in excess. Also, readers know that character
flaws can create conflict in a story. A character’s excessive pride (hubris) may
cause conflict in a relationship.
Class: Read “Echo and Narcissus”. Identify a character with a flaw. Explain
the flaw and how it affected the character and those around him/her. Use
specific examples.
Home: Now that you more clearly understand character traits and character
flaws, apply this to your independent reading book. Identify a character and
his/her flaw. Explain the flaw and how it affects the character and those
around him/her. Write your response and use specific examples from the
book!
Entry Four: Antagonist/Protagonist
Good readers understand that most stories contain both a protagonist (a
character who wants, or wants to do something) and an antagonist (people
or things that get in the way of the protagonist). They recognize both types of
characters as they read and how each impacts the story.
Class: Read “Orpheus”. Identify the protagonist and antagonist in the story.
Explain what the protagonist wants and how the antagonist stands in the way.
Use details from the story.
Home: Now that you more clearly understand protagonists and antagonists,
identify each type of character using your independent reading book. Explain
what the protagonist wants and how the antagonist stands in the way. Use
specific details to support your response.
Entry Five: Internal & External Conflict
Good readers understand that conflicts can be internal (character vs. self) or
external (character vs. some outside force). They recognize the conflicts in the
stories they read and understand what created the conflict. Additionally,
they look closely at how a character copes (deals) with the conflict and
determines what this says about the character (traits). This is a multi-step
process.
Identify Character:
Conflict: (Internal/External)
How does the character deal with the conflict?
What does this reveal about the character? (traits)
Class: Read “Medusa’s Head”. Identify a conflict. Explain the conflict and if it
is internal or external. Then, explain how the character deals with the conflict.
What traits are revealed about the character?
Home: Using what you know about conflicts, identify a conflict from your
independent reading book. Determine if the conflict is internal or external.
Then, explain how the character copes with the conflict and what character
traits are revealed.
Entry Six: Character Change
Good readers understand that characters change and grow as a result of
their experiences. They recognize static characters (characters who remain
the same throughout the story and remain unaffected by their experiences)
and dynamic characters (character who change as a result of their
experiences – not necessarily for the better). Good readers understand what
prompts or brings about the change.
Class: Read “Baucis and Philemon”. Identify a character who exhibits qualities
of a static OR dynamic character. Use specific details to show how the
character changes or stays the same.
Home: Now that you more clearly understand character, identify either a
static or a dynamic character from your independent reading book. Use
details to explain and to show why the character stays the same, or what
causes the character to change.
Entry Seven: Shelf Life
Good readers know that some stories are old – they’ve been passed down
from generation to generation and have truly survived the test of time. Good
readers also know that some books that may be “all the rage” today won’t be
all that popular in fifty years from now. The very best readers can identify
qualities of a book that contribute to its shelf life. Additionally, good readers
recognize that through writing, authors can reveal the values of a group of
people, a culture or a society.
Class: Read “The Seventh Sister”. Explain what this story reveals about the
Chinese culture. In your estimation, explain why you think this story is important
to the Chinese culture. What values are revealed?
Home: Consider your independent reading book. If your book were found
100 years from now, would it still be as popular as it is today? Why or why not?
What values would it reveal about the culture of the people in the story or
about our society today? Hint: Try looking at the characters. What do they
value? Consider important? Treasure?