Name: _________________________
Hercules Compare/Contrast Essay
Pre-Writing Worksheet
What are 3 ways the myth and the movie were the same?
1.
2.
3.
Looking at the things above, how are ancient Greek culture and modern American culture similar?
A.
B.
C.
What are some major differences between the myth and the movie?
1.
2.
3.
Looking at the things above, how are ancient Greek culture and modern American culture very
different?
A.
B.
C.
Now, you should pick three of the lettered items (A, B, C) to focus on for your paper. These will be your main
points and will make the topic sentences for your body paragraphs. The numbered items (1, 2, 3) will be you
support, and will make up the rest of your body paragraphs. Look at the following example that uses
information from the Iliad and the movie Troy:
Similarities:
1. Hero (Achilles) is very strong, handsome, and an excellent warrior
2. Agamemnon steals Achilles’ prize woman
Cultural similarities shown by above examples:
A. Both cultures believe heroes to be strong, brave, skilled men
B. Both cultures believe that power often corrupts leaders
Differences:
1. In the movie, Achilles does not want to fight in the Trojan War; in the myth he wants to fight but his mother
hides him away
2. Patroclus is shown as Achilles’ young nephew, not as his older friend
Cultural differences shown by above examples:
A. Americans view heroes as rebels who want to live life by their own rules, instead of being ruled over by
others. We also prefer heroes who only kill when they have to.
B. Americans value protecting and avenging family members, especially those younger than us. We do not
usually extend this kind of protection to mere friends, as the Greeks did.
First and Last Name
Intro to Mythology
Mrs. Clemson
Day Month Year
Creative Title
Introduction that gives information about what your paper will be about and gives some background
about the myth and the movie. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah
blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Your
thesis statement should be the last sentence in the introduction. Example Thesis: Differences in the Disney
movie Hercules and the classic Greek myth “Heracles” clearly show the two cultures’ contrasting values in the
areas of true love, true family, and true heroism.
Your first body paragraph should discuss the first cultural value that is the same or different between
ancient Greece and modern America. You should use the similarities and differences in the myth and the movie
to support this point. Make sure to explain how your examples prove the point about values. Blah blah blah.
Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.
Your second body paragraph should discuss the second cultural value that is the same or different
between ancient Greece and modern America. You should use the similarities and differences in the myth and
the movie to support this point. Make sure to explain how your examples prove the point about values. Blah
blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.
Your third body paragraph should discuss the third cultural value that is the same or different between
ancient Greece and modern America. You should use the similarities and differences in the myth and the movie
to support this point. Make sure to explain how your examples prove the point about values. Blah blah blah.
Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.
Your conclusion should restate your thesis and end with an interesting, thought-provoking statement
(clincher). You SHOULD NOT do any evaluation (whether the movie or myth was better) or bring up any new
points.