Mythology
Alexis, Allyson, Francisco, & Grant
aka.
THE BIG FOUR
honors english 10
2nd block
What is Mythology ?
Mythology has been around for thousands of years.
It has been a way of explaining things that the
philosophers of their time were unable to explain
such as weather and life itself.
It is a body of literature and art that tell myths and
legends about gods, goddesses, creatures, and
humans.
History of Mythology ...
- Mythology is a body of myths and legends that belongs to a certain group
of people.
-Most of the myths and legends can be found in literature and architecture.
-Greek mythology is one the oldest forms of mythology.
-Other mythologies were originated in Egypt, Rome, and other ancient
countries or groups.
-In most mythology there are gods and goddesses that control everything
about the natural and unnatural world.
-Often times there is a heirarchy of gods where there are more important
gods than others.
-Greek mythology involves The Big 3. These 3 gods are Zeus, Poseidon,
and Hades. They are the considered the most important and most powerful.
-Mythology was a way of explaining things that philosophers couldn't
explain.
-People saw earthquakes, volcano eruptions, hurricanes, and thunder
storms and assumed that someone made these things. These people were
called gods, immortal beings that ruled the world.
Comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from
different cultures.
Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece.
A “myth” is also known as a false story.
Mythological Historical Fiction
novels
The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Troy by Adele Geras
Behind the Walls of Troy by Clemence McLaren
The Goddess of Yesterday by Caroline B. Cooney
Troy
by Adele Geras
about the author...
Adele Geras was born in Jerusalem in 1944.
She became a teacher after getting married in 1967.
In 1973 she began writing by submitting a story to her local newspaper.
She found that writing was a lot of fun.
Finally her first book, Tea at Mrs. Manderby's, was accepted and published in 1976.
She wrote over 80 books including Troy.
summary
The seige of Troy has lasted for 10 years. Inside the people are hungry and scared. The gods watch from
up high on Mount Olypmus. Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is tired of the endless death and slaughter.
She turns her attention towards 2 sisters, Marpessa and Xanthe. When Eros sets his arrow in his silver lit
bow neither sister can escape it's power. They must fight the power of the gods if they want to keep their
life.
The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
about the author...
Riordan was born in San Antonio, Texas.
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin where he double-majored in English and history.
Rick Riordan is the author of the bestselling series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, for children and the
multi-award-winning, Tres Navarre mystery series, for adults.
Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in
Texas for fifteen years.
His adult fiction has won the top three national awards in the mystery genre – the Edgar, the Anthony and
the Shamus.
Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and two sons.
summary
The Lightning Thief is a depiction of a young demi god, Percy Jackson, and his adventures with the
modern form of greek mythology. He encounters many gods and goddesses along with many foul
creatures. He finds himself overwhelmed in the world he thought was just myths and legends. He quickly
found out that the world is not what he thought it was. He is taken to a camp where he must train and
prepare himself for the biggest war the world will ever host. His father, Poseidon, and Zeus are arguing
about Zeus' missing lightning bolt. Zeus suspects that Percy stole it. Percy must venture deep into the pits
of Hades if he wants to clear his name and save the lives of millions.
Behind the Walls of Troy
by Clemence McLauren
about the author...
As a young girl, Clemence McLaren would read Homer's ancient tales in bed with a flashlight.
She was fascinated with the womens’ characters and their actions, but was always disappointed, though,
when the women would have nothing to say.
She wondered what they thought and felt, how they dealt with their troubles, and what their childhood was
like.
McLaren began writing stories about ancient Greece to answer her own questions.
She wrote from the famous characters' point of views. She described their lives as children, the trials they
faced, and how they felt in certain situations.
The goal of her writings is to give readers the background story she created and the actual history for each
character.
McLaren is currently an english teacher for young six graders. She still writes historical fiction about
ancient Greece.
summary
The story of the Trojan War is told, but not from the perspective of a man. It is seen through the eyes of
two women: Helen, the woman who's face launched a thousand ships and killed fifty thousand men, and
Cassandra, one of Paris' sisters. While Helen is burdened by her beauty, Cassandra can see the future.
She can see Helen and the ruin of her family, but she is still drawn to Helen's beauty and kindness. While
the war rages on, their friendship grows. They describe the trials, triumph, and pain of Troy. Readers not
only get to experience the Trojan War from inside the walls of Troy, but they also get to see it from two
women's point of view.
The Goddess of Yesterday
by Caroline B. Cooney
about the author...
Caroline B. Cooney was born on May 10, 1947 in Geneva, New York.
She lived most of her childhood years in Old Greenwich, Connecticut.
In college, she studied arts, music, and English, although she never graduated.
She went on to be a mother and wife.
She has written over 60 books; two of which have been made into films for
television.
She wrote the book "The Face on the Milk Carton", which was later made into a
Film for TV.
summary
A young girl by the name of Anaxandra is taken hostage from her home island to
become the king’s daughters’ new playmate. A few years later, pirates attack and
anaxandra is taken by a man named Menelaus to the city of Amyklai, where she
assumes the identity of Princess Callisto. She befriends his children, in particular his
daughter, Hermoine, and his baby son, Pleis. But she is also terrified by his wife Helen,
who knows the truth, that Anaxandra is not Callisto. When Helen runs off with her
lover, Prince Paris of Troy,Anaxandra disguises herself and goes in Hermoine's place, to
save her friend and protect Pleis. She manages to get herself and the baby safely to
Troy, where a great war is about to begin, and they are in more danger then ever before.
In Troy, Anaxandra struggles with what to do as the war begins and she is determined to
continue to protect the baby as well as her hidden identity.
key vocabulary!
POSEIDON- god of the sea
RIVER STYX- river in the underworld filled with the lost hopes of people
APHRODITE- goddess of love
APPLE OF DISCORD- a gift from Eris that caused arguments amongst the gods starting the Trojan war
ZEUS- god of the sky
MEDUSA- a monster that turns people with just her gaze
ANDROMACHE- wife of Hector
HELEN- daughter of Zeus; most beautiful woman
TROY- host city of the Trojan war
ACHILLES- greatest greek warrior
THE END !!!