What Do Myths and Legends Teach Us
About Society?
Feature Menu
Myths and Legends
Heroes and Quests
Norse Myths
Arthurian Legends
Romantic Literature
Archetypes
Your Turn
Myths and Legends
Myths are traditional stories rooted in a particular
culture. A myth . . .
• is basically religious
in nature
• serves to explain
beliefs, rituals, or
natural phenomena
• reveals the ideals and
values of a society
Myths vs. Folk tales
Myths and Legends
Throughout history, people have used myths to
explain . . .
• the creation of the world
• ancient religious beliefs
and practices
• events and
elements in
nature
Myths and Legends
A legend is a story about extraordinary deeds
based on a real historical event or person.
Because legends
are told and
retold, they often
take on fantastic,
supernatural
elements.
Myths and Legends
Quick Check
• extraordinary deeds
• explanation of natural
phenomena
• scientific proofs
Which two
elements do
not appear in
myths or
legends?
• gods and goddesses
• fantastic, supernatural
elements
• confusion about values
[End of Section]
Heroes and Quests
In myths and legends, a hero or a heroine is
extraordinary in several ways:
• In a myth, a hero is often
descended from the gods.
• The hero faces a seemingly
impossible task.
• He or she accepts the task
with courage, ingenuity, and
often superhuman strength.
Heroes and Quests
Heroes often set out on a quest—a journey
or a test to find something of great
significance.
In Greek mythology,
the hero Theseus
goes on a quest to
slay the Minotaur, a
monster devouring
the youth of Athens.
[End of Section]
The Major
Greek Gods
and Goddesses
The Olympians
The Olympians
ZEUS
(Jupiter, Jove)
• Zeusor
was
the
Roman name Jupiter
Jove
supreme god of the
Olympians
• He was in charge
of the sky and
weather. (He shot
lightening bolts.)
• Had many affairs
with mortal women
(who bore heroes)
Hera
(Juno)
Roman name Juno
• Queen of the
Olympian gods.
• Sister and wife of
Zeus.
• Goddess of
marriage, wealth
• Very jealous of
her husband’s
affairs
APHRODITE
(Venus)
Roman name
Venus of love,
• goddess
beauty; and fertility
• protectress of
sailors.
• Her son was Eros,
whose Roman name
was Cupid
• married to
Hephaestus, the
lame god of
blacksmithing
ARES
(Mars)
Roman name Mars
• Ares was the god
of offensive war
• He had an affair
with Aphrodite
• Cruel and
bloodthirsty
• Called the “Red
God”
HEPHAESTUS
(Vulcan)
Roman name Vulcan
• Hephaestus was the
lame god of fire and
metal crafts (of
blacksmiths)
• He was the only ugly
god
• Workshop under a
volcano
• God of volcanoes
• Made armor for the
gods and heroes
ARTEMIS
(Diana)
• Goddess
Roman name
Diana of the
moon, the hunt,
and wild animals
• Apollo’s twin
• Goddess of women
in childbirth
• Could bring sudden
death with her
arrows.
DIONYSUS
(Bacchus)
Roman name
• Bacchus
Dionysus was the god of
grapes/wine and fertility
• God of drama and
theater
• Plays were performed in
his honor
• His festival in Rome was
called the “Bacchanalia”
• sometimes portrayed as
a satyr in later Greek and
Roman history.
HERMES
(Mercury)
Roman name
• Mercury
Hermes was the
messenger of the
gods and guide of
dead souls to the
Underworld.
• God of travelers
and theives
• He wore winged
sandals and carried
a snake-winged
scepter
POSEIDON
(Neptune)
• Neptune
Poseidon was the
Roman name
god of the sea,
earthquakes, and
horses.
• Sons named Triton
and Proteus
• Over mermen and
mermaids
• Over all sea
monsters
• was officially one of
the supreme gods of
Mount Olympus, he
spent most of his
time in his watery
domain.
APOLLO
(Apollo)
Roman name Apollo
• Apollo was the god
of the sun and twin
to Artemis
• He was also the
god who controlled
prophesy, music,
the arts, healing,
athletes, and
poetry.
ATHENA
(Minerva)
Roman name Minerva
• Athena was the
goddess of defensive
war
• Goddess of wisdom,
and and the domestic
arts (weaving)
• she was the patron
goddess of Athens.
• Her symbol was the
owl
• She sprang fully grown
and dressed in armor
from Zeus’s head
DEMETER
(Ceres)
Roman name Cerus
• Demeter was the
goddess of
agriculture and the
harvest
• She was the sister
of Zeus and the
mother of
Persephone
• She is the reason
we have seasons
HESTIA
(Vesta)
• Goddess of the
hearth and home
• Every Greek home
had an altar to her in
their homes
• Over domestic
harmony and family
HADES
(Pluto)
Roman name
Plutowas the God
• Hades
of the Dead and
ruler of the
Underworld (which
was called Hades
after the god)
• Hades abducted
Persephone, who
became his queen
• Like Poseidon, he did
not live on Mt.
Olympus, but rather
in Hades itself.
PERSEPHONE
(Proserpina)
Roman name Pluto
• Daughter of
Demeter
• Goddess of the
spring
• Kidnapped by
Hades and made
his wife
• Queen of the
Underworld
IRIS
(Iris)
• Goddess of the
rainbow
• Messenger
goddess
• Messages
delivered by
rainbow
HEBE
(Juventas)
• Goddess of
youth and
children
• Over children
and learning
• Guarded
children in
sleep and
illness
HERCULES
(Heracles)
• Hercules-was
son of Zeus and
a mortal
woman
• Was a hero
• Made a god at
his death
• God of strength
CHRONUS
(KRONOS)
• Titan god
• Ruler of the
Titans
• Defeated by
Zeus and the
Olympians
• God of Time
THE MUSES
• Nine goddesses
who served
Apollo
• Over the arts,
poetry, history,
and music
THE FATES
• Three
goddesses who
controlled the
fates of gods
and men
THE FURIES
• Three
goddesses who
were sent by
the Olympian
gods to punish
people on earth
In Literature, what
is a hero?
1. A person—usually a male-noted for feats of courage or
nobility of purpose, especially
one who has risked or
sacrificed his or her life.
2. In mythology and legend, a
hero is a man, often of divine
ancestry, who is endowed with
great courage and strength,
celebrated for his bold
exploits, and favoured by the
gods.
3. The principal male character
in a novel, poem, or dramatic
presentation.
Characteristics of a hero:
Brave
Trustworthy
High values
Honest
Strong leader
Courageous
Good communicator
Motivated
Inspirational
Confident
Hopeful
Adventurous
Extraordinary Talent
Strength
Responsible to others
Positive
Good Role Model
Intelligent
Heroines
1. A woman noted for courage and daring action.
2. A woman noted for special achievement in a
particular field.
3. The principal female character in a novel, poem,
or dramatic presentation.
Many writers now consider hero, long restricted to men in the
sense "a person noted for courageous action," to be a genderneutral term. It is used to refer to admired women as well as men
in respected publications.
Norse Myths
Norse myths are traditional stories of the
people of ancient Scandinavia and Germany.
• Norse mythology
includes hero tales,
called sagas.
• Sagas are part of the
Norse oral storytelling
tradition.
Norse Myths
In one myth, the hero Sigurd, the most famous
Norse hero, gets help in his quest from Odin,
the principal Norse God.
“I gave your father a sword,” said Odin
as they watched the great creature
breasting the flood. “Now I give you this
horse. Ride out and win fame. . . . heroes
shall rise to greet you as the greatest one
of them all.”
•
From "The Dragon Slayer" and "Fafnir's End" from Legends of the North by Olivia E. Coolidge. Copyright
1951 by Olivia E. Coolidge. Reproduced by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company, www.hmco.com.
[End of Section]
Arthurian Legends
Arthurian legends are
stories about King Arthur and
the brave, powerful, and
adventurous knights of the
Round Table.
The medieval hero King
Arthur was considered a
great fighter and defender
of his land.
Arthurian Legends
The Arthurian legends are probably based on a
fifth or sixth-century Celtic chieftain who lived in
Wales.
This legendary king
led his people to
victory against
invaders from
Germany.
Arthurian Legends
The following excerpt describes Arthur’s first heroic
task—pulling a sword out of a stone in which it had
been lodged.
“Why,” said Arthur, “do you kneel
before me?”
“My lord,” Sir Ector replied, “there is
only one man living who can draw the
sword from the stone, and he is the
true-born king of Britain.”
•
From “The Sword in the Stone” from Le Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, translated by
Keith Baines. Translation copyright © 1962 by Keith Baines; copyright renewed © 1990 by
Francesca Evans. Reproduced by permission of Dutton Signet, a division of Penguin Group
(USA) Inc., www.penguin.com.
Norse Myths and Arthurian Legends
Quick Check
1. a hero or heroine
2. sagas
3. the god Odin
4. quests
5. a famous round table
6. knights
Match each
numbered item
to its literary
genre.
A. Norse myths
B. Arthurian
legends
C. Probably both
7. an impossible task
[End of Section]
Romantic Literature
The legends of King Arthur are part of the larger
genre of Romantic literature.
These legends
developed in twelfthcentury England and
France and focus on
the adventures of
knights and other
heroes.
Romantic vs. romantic
Romantic Literature
The medieval romance celebrates the ideals of
chivalry—the code of behavior a knight followed.
A knight was expected
to be . . .
brave
honorable
generous to his foes
respectful of women
protective of the weak
Romantic Literature
The stories of Romantic literature are still enjoyed
today. Such tales feature love and loyalty, often with
elements of magic or enchantment.
In “The Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake,” the
hero commits to helping the king’s daughter.
[End of Section]
Archetypes
An archetype is a plot pattern, image, or
character type that appears throughout literature.
One example of an
archetype is the hero,
who faces formidable
enemies and physical
challenges or goes on
a quest.
More about archetypes
Archetypes
As you read myths and legends, use a graphic
organizer like the one below to track archetypal
qualities.
Quest
Outcome
of quest
Conflict
Hero/Heroine
Superhuman
qualities
Divine
intervention
Romantic Literature and Archetypes
Quick Check
1.Knights in the medieval era
pledged to be honorable and to
protect the weak.
2. One archetypal pattern is
the plot type in which a hero
goes on a quest.
1. What other
traits were
included in the
code of
chivalry?
2. What kind of
help is a hero
likely to have
during the
quest?
[End of Section]
Analyze Myths and Legends
Your Turn
Think of a hero or heroine from literature or film and
apply your knowledge of the archetypal hero. Use the
following questions as a guide:
• What is the hero’s or heroine’s quest?
• What heroic qualities does the character possess to
overcome the challenge(s)?
• What conflicts does the hero overcome?
• What is the outcome?
[End of Section]
The End