SUMMER READING
PARALLEL MYTHS
Guided Reading Questions
Chapter 9: Some Brief Myths of the Hero
THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED
During the school year look for similarities to the stories of Perseus, Theseus, and
Hercules. Siegfried is the hero of Richard Wagner’s “ring” cycle of operas.
1. What does the name Siegfried mean?
2. What power does King Alberich’s right have?
3. Who is King Alberich?
4. What guarded the ring and the treasure of the elves?
5. Why did Siegfried’s mother bive him to Mine, the dwarf, to raise?
6. What is Siegfried’s destiny according to Mine?
7. What question worries Siegfried during his youth?
8. What does Wotan know about Siegfried’s destiny?
9. Wotan’s most distinguishing physical characteristic is___________________ and
his is known for carrying a _________ ________________ made from
Yggdrasil, the ______ _______ that supports the world.
10. What does Siegfried learn from Wotan’s answers to Mine’s questions?
11. What must Siegfried do to prepare to perform heroics?
12. What is Siegfried’s first task?
13. What skill does Siegfried develop from the blood of Fafner that helps him
accomplish his second task?
14. How does siegfried (like Oedipus you will read about later) seal his own fate?
15. Why doesn’t the dwarf King Alberich fight Siegfried?
16. What is Siegfried’s third task?
What barrier protects this object?
17. Why was Brunnhilde put to sleep?
18. How does Siegfried awaken Brunnhilde?
What fairy tales does that remind you of?
19.What is significant about the removal of Brunnhildes’ helmet?
20. What does Siegfried give to Brunnhilde?
21. Who does the wicked sorceress want Siegfried and Gunther to marry?
22. Siegfried brings Brunnhilde to the palace of Gunther disguised as Gunther, but he
doesn’t remember Brunnhilde because
23. Why does Brunnhilde become angry with Siegfried?
24. What lies does Brunnhilde tell?
25. Why won’t Gunther kill Siegfried to defend Brunnhilde’s honor?
26. Who kills Siegfried?
27. What is Brunnhilde’s response?
HIAWATHA TARENYAWAGON (IROQUOIS)
1. Why did Tarenyawagon take human form and go to earth?
2. How many nations did Tarenyawagon start by leading a girl to each area?
3. Name the nations and the their gifts.
4. What kind of society is ruled by the eldest woman?
5. Once Minehaha died and had been mourned Hiawatha stressed that the
nations should be ________________ and flew away in his birch bark canoe.