Greek Gods and Superheroes Pathfinder
Some of Mrs. Reddy’s favorite superheroes!
Batman
The Maxx
Xena
Yoko
Batman, The Maxx, Xena, and Yoko are some of my favorite superheroes because they have a
tormented past. Personally, I am fascinated with heroes who carry a lot of turmoil.
“Without darkness there is no light”
--Lao Tzu (Chinese philosopher) founder of Taoism
Batman—parents were killed when Batman was a child and he spends his life seeking justice
The Maxx—shifts like a shaman between realms without his control and is the protector of
Julie, a social worker (who struggles with repressed memories)
Xena—modern day fictional Greek hero who spends her life making amends (she was an evil
warrior)
Yoko—Japanese Magical school girl archetype (not just a shy school girl has another identity).
Does anyone here have a favorite god or superhero?
Be sure to take notes for a brief activity before we begin our research.
Our objective for today is to begin research on a Greek god/hero and compare their journey to
that of a particular superhero. You are going to use this pathfinder for the research and will
share your findings with us before the end of the period
This is a scene from one of my favorite epic Anime Twelve Kingdoms;
the main heroine, Yoko Nakajima, can be compared to Athena, Ares, Artemis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qGndZYsuHY
One of Athena’s character traits is to protect the city. She is known as Goddess of the city. In this
scene you see Yoko protecting her people from her corrupt army.
Athena
Yoko
Xena for example reminds me of two of my favorite goddesses
Kali (Indian Mythology) and Artemis (Greek mythology)
(in honor of Women’s History Month)
Xena
Kali (Hindu goddess of old)
Artemis (Greek-Moon goddess)
Kali & Xena are linked in their journey:
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Both are fierce warriors who get carried away in the heat of battle (blood lust)
Xena and Kali have a very dark side associated with death and destruction
However without death and destruction there is no birth and rebirth. Xena is
reborn when she becomes a hero. Kali is also worshipped as a mother goddess
(her devotees are protected).
In this image Kali is depicted with a human head in her arms and skulls around
her neck. In her dark warrior days, Xena impaled her victims on stakes to
terrorize anyone who opposed her army
Xena and Kali are both creators and destroyers
Xena is also similar to Artemis (Artemis protects women and children and Xena
never kills women and children)
Mythology is universal (modern superheroes/India/Greece)
o Joseph Campbell-(hero’s journey)
o Carl Jung-(archetypes/collective unconscious)
Here is an example of how the ancient and the modern have merged
Nymphs finding the head of Orpheus
Painting by John William Waterhouse
(Painting, 1905)
Xena finding the head of Orpheus
Xena Warrior Princess
(Television Show, 1996)
http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/view.cfm?recordid=22
Click here to learn more about Orpheus
http://www.xenafan.com/
The best fan website on Xena Warrior Princess
Group Activity before we begin to research
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Break into partners one will be “A” and the other will be “B”
B will begin without looking at the notes and explain some of the lecture (30
seconds)
Partner “A” will then take 45 seconds to fill in anything that “B” might have
missed (you can use your notes)
Poseidon
Aqua Man
Wolverine
Achilles
Directions for using this pathfinder:
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Click on Internet Explorer
Click on Library
Click on NRHS Reference Desk
Click on Links for students
Under Assignments look for Superhero Project
Look for Mrs. Robinson (on the left)
Pages 5-7 will has database & websites that pertain to this project
o Page 8 (PowerPoint, Movie Maker &successful oral presentations)
o Page 9 (worksheet)
o Pages 10-11 (related books & recommended reads)
o Page 12 (concluding thoughts)
o Page 13 (recommended films)
o Page 14 (extra resources: you can even create your own heroic journey here!)
o Page 15 (outline of Mrs. Robinson’s project)
Your Journey now begins!
Database
http://go-passport.grolier.com/
Example of Keyword Search:
Artemis
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From school you don’t need a password sheet
From home you will need a password sheet
Databases are fantastic because the information has been
compiled by professionals (teachers, librarians & professors).
Grolier is a great database for finding quick factual information
on myths, legends, heroes, and background information
Great for finding information on gods & goddesses
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if you click here
You will find additional resources for your project
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Superheroes
http://www.superherodb.com/
http://marvel.com/
http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/
Greek gods and heroes
http://www.greekmythology.com/
http://www.pantheon.org/
http://www.timelessmyths.com/classical/heroic.html
Wonder Woman
Athena
http://www.dccomics.com/sites/wonderwoman/
http://www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/
http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythathena.htm
http://www.helium.com/items/720747-comparing-superheroes-and-mythological-heroes
http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/
http://www.helium.com/items/720747-comparing-superheroes-and-mythological-heroes
http://www.theoi.com/Heroine/Atalanta.html
Apollo
Human Torch
http://www.helium.com/items/720747-comparing-superheroes-and-mythological-heroes
Morpheus (Greek god of Dreams)
Morpheus (The Matrix)
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman
A few links to guide you on your Quest:
PowerPoint Presentation
12 Tips for creating better presentations
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/skills/presentations.aspx
9 Presentation Tips for Students
http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/classrooms/tp/student_tips.htm
Windows Movie Maker
http://explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker?os=other
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Getting-started-with-Windows-Movie-Maker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DHFKVzG8Zw&feature=related
Successful Oral Presentations
http://www.aresearchguide.com/3tips.html
http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/learning/oral
Hades
Spectre
Directions: begin to take notes for your project. You have 15-20 minutes to collect some
information on your superhero/god/hero. Use pages 5-7 for this assignment. You will
then share some of your findings with your classmates. Have fun and enjoy your quest!
Name/Names___________________________
Origin of Superhero
Origin of god/hero
Qualities and powers of your Superhero
Qualities and powers of god/hero
Hero’s journey of the Greek hero
Hero’s journey of the superhero.
OR
Adventures of the god
OR
Hero’s journey of the superhero
What are some similarities between your superhero/god?
Is there a modernized version or replica of your Superhero and god/hero?
Related Reads
Book
The Hero with a Thousand Faces
DK Illustrated Dictionary of Mythology
The Power of Myth
Timeless Tales Myths
The Nemean Lion
Tales of GreeK Heroes
The Tale of Troy
Gods and Heroes of Ancient Greece
Mythology
Greek and Roman Mythology A-Z
The Genealogy of Greek Mythology
Bulfinch’s Mythology
Women Who Run with Wolves
The Sandman
Prince of Persia
Batman Cacophony
Astonishing X-men
Astonishing X-Men
The Medieval Hero on Screen
The Battle for Azeroth
The Lightning Thief series
Percy Jackson & The Olympians
Xena Warrior Princess
Author
Call Number
Campbell, Joseph
201 CAM
Wilkinson, Philip
201 WIL
Campbbell, Joseph
291.1 CAM
Reiff, Tana
291.1 REI
Evslin, Bernard
292.1 EVS
Green, Roger
292.1 GRE
Green, Roger
292.1 GRE
Gustav, Schwab
292.1 SCH
Edith Hamilton
291.13 HAM
Daly, Kathleen
292.103 DAL
James, Vanessa
392.2 JAM
Bulfinch, Thomas
398 B
Estes, Clarissa
398 EST
Gaiman, Neil
741.5 GAI
Sina, A.B.
741.5 SIN
Smith, Kevin
741.5 SMI
Whedon, Joss
741.5 WHE
Whedon, Cassandry
741.5 WHE
Driver, Martha W.
791.43 MED
Fawcett, Bill
793.93 BAT
Riordan, Rick
FIC RIORDAN
Riordan, Rick
FIC Riordan
Weisbrot, Robert
Mrs. Reddy’s copy
Related Reads
Book
Joseph Campbell The Hero’s Journey
The Masks of God
The Universal Myths
Captain America
Joseph Campbell on Myth and Mythology
The Golden Age of DC Comics
Days Missing
Justice League of America
Batman: the Dark Knight Returns
Spider-Man the Icon
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
The Worlds of Dungeons and Dragons
The Sandman
The Illiad
The Odyssey
Twelve Kingdoms (series)
The Power of Myth
The Encyclopedia of Mythology
Author
Campbell, Joseph
Campbell, Joseph
Eliot, Alexander
Brubaker
Sartore, Richard
Daniels, Les
Ellis, Warren
Fox, Gardner
Miller, Frank
Saffel, Steve
Moore, Alan
Salvatore, R.A
Gaiman, Neil
Homer
Homer
Ono, Fuyumi
Campbell, Joseph
Flaum, Eric
Call Number
200 CAM
201 CAM
201 ELI
741.5 BRU
291.1 CAM
741.5 DAN
741.5 DAY
741.5 FOX
741.5 MIL
741.5 SAF
741.5 MOO
741.5 WOR
741.5 GAI
883 HOM
883 HOM
FIC ONO
CD 201 Campbell
Mrs. Reddy’s copy
Concluding Questions
Carl Jung believed that whatever hero/god that you identify with will help you in your
own journey. Whoever you feel a connection with will help you realize your own
strengths and weaknesses
As you were doing your research, what information did you come across about your
Greek gods/heroes and superheroes?
From all the gods/superheroes you have researched which one do you think you are
most like? Which one do you identify with?
I identify with Yoko from Twelve Kingdoms.
Yoko when she first arrives in Twelve Kingdoms
Yoko when she becomes Queen
In the beginning of her journey Yoko is afraid and has doubts about her journey;
however, towards the end of her story she is courageous, fierce, brave and seeks out
justice for her people and her kingdom.
Recommended Films and Television Shows
Thor
http://thor.marvel.com/
Batman
http://thedarkknight.warnerbros.com/dvdsite/
Troy
http://troymovie.warnerbros.com/
Twelve Kingdoms
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-p2abPAJB4
http://www.12kingdoms.us/
The Maxx
http://www.mtv.com/shows/the_maxx/series.jhtml
Xena
http://www.xenafan.com/
Other fun links!
Modern Ares on Xena
Modern Athena on Xena
Joseph Campbell
http://www.mevio.com/episode/92858/the-power-of-myth-with-joseph-cambell
Myths of Heroes
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005854/text/types.htm
Myths of gods
http://library.thinkquest.org/C005854/text/types.htm
The Hero’s Journey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AG4rlGkCRU
Joseph Campbell Foundation
http://www.jcf.org/new/index.php
Joseph Campbell Mythic Journey
http://www.folkstory.com/campbell/campbell.html
Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief Series
http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/percy-jackson-olympians/lightning-thief.aspx
http://www.percyjacksonthemovie.com/
You can even create your own journey here!
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/herosjourney/
Hercules
Hermes
Circe
Atlanta
The goal of this project is for you to prove that a particular superhero is a modern-day
version of a Greek god, goddess or hero. You can present the following information in
any form you want (PowerPoint, Windows Movie Maker, a traditional oral presentation,
etc.). Your main focus, though, should be on thoroughly explaining each category. You
may work alone or with one other person.
1. Detail the origin of both the Greek god/hero and the superhero. 20 points
2. Explain the qualities and powers that each has. 20 points
3. Compare the hero’s journey of the Greek/hero with that of the superhero. 20 points
Compare the adventures of the god with the hero’s journey of the superhero. 20 points
4. Show a scene from a movie, cartoon book that highlights their similarities. 20 points
5. Has the superhero been modernized in any capacity or is he/she replica of the
classical version in a new costume? Explain thoroughly. 20 points
Three days have been dedicated solely for in-class research in the library’s computer
lab: Monday 3/21, Tuesday 3/22, and Wednesday 3/23.
Captain Marvel
Flash
The Eternals
Wonder Woman