Greek Mythology
and Helen on Eighty-Sixth Street
Page 126
2007 COS –
2010 COS – RL.9-10.4; RL.9-10.9 RL.9-10.10;
W.9-10.3; W.9-10.4; W.9-10.10; SL.9-10.1;
L.9-10.1; L.9-10.2; L.9-10.3; L.9-10.4; L.9-10.6
AHSGE – R.III.2; R.IV.2
Reading Skills – Understanding allusions
Literary skills – Determine character traits from what characters say
about themselves
Literary Terms
• Character Traits – personalities, values,
likes, and dislikes
• Allusion – reference to a past well-known
event or story
Helen of Troy
The god Zeus fell in love with Leda, a mortal
woman and visited her in the form of a
swan. Their daughter Helen grew up to be
the most beautiful woman on earth.
Helen of Troy
Helen married Menelaus, king of Sparta, but
Paris fell in love with her and ran away
with her to Troy.
Helen of Troy
Helen’s husband, Menelaus, and other
Greek kings and warriors under the
leadership of his brother, Agamemnon
sailed to Troy in a thousand ships to bring
Helen home.
Helen of Troy
For ten years the Greeks camped outside
the walls of Troy, but they were unable to
break down the walls. Finally the Greeks
built a huge wooden horse with a hollow
belly and hid some soldiers inside it.
Helen of Troy
The Trojans thought the horse was a gift and
wheeled it into the city. That night the
Greeks crept out of the horse, opened the
city gates to let in the other soldiers, and
slaughtered the Trojans.
Other Greek Images in the Story
Odysseus – Fought in the Trojan war. The wooden horse
was his idea. He is most famous for his ten year journey
to return from the war (the Odyssey)
Lotus-eaters – In the Odyssey, people who eat fruit of the
lotus tree, a sort of drug, which causes them to forget
forever their homes and families.
Argus – Odysseus’s dog in the Odyssey. When Odysseus
returns home after twenty years, the dog is the only one
who recognizes him.
Other Greek Images in the Story
Parthenon – a temple of Athena, the Greek
goddess of wisdom and warfare.
Vocabulary – p. 126
• Embodies – v.: conveys the impression of;
represents
• Odyssey – n.: extended journey marked by
wandering, adventure, and changes of fortune
• Litany – n.: repetitive prayer or recitation
• Incantation – n: chant of words or phrases that is
meant to produce a magical result
• Stifled – v. used as adj.: smothered
Vocabulary – p. 126
• Scourge – n.: cause of serious trouble or great
suffering
• Polytheism – n.: belief in more than one god.
• Ramparts – n.: broad embankments surrounding
a castle, fort, or city for defense against attack
• Supplication – n.: humble plea or request
• Enunciate – v.: pronounce; articulate
Vocabulary Activity
Match the vocabulary word to the definition
or the word that is similar in meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Cantor, chant
Journey, quest
Theology
Bodily, bodiless
Announce
Psalm
Suppliant
Afflict, chastise
Fort, embankment
Muffled, suffocated
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
Embodies
Enunciate
Incantation
Litany
Odyssey
Polytheism
Ramparts
Scourge
Stifled
Supplication
Vocabulary Activity
Match the vocabulary word to the definition or the
word that is similar in meaning
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Cantor, chant
Journey, quest
Theology
Bodily, bodiless
Announce
Psalm
Suppliant
Afflict, chastise
Fort, embankment
Muffled, suffocated
C Incantation
E Odyssey
F Polytheism
A Embodies
B Enunciate
D Litany
J Supplication
H Scourge
G Ramparts
I Stifled
Quickwrite
• We all have hopes and dreams. Some
come true, and some don’t. Jot down ten
of your hopes and dreams. Indicate which,
if any, have came true.
While Reading
•
Keep a list of the allusions the author uses in the story.
Identify the following about each:
–
–
–
Identify the allusion from the story citing page number.
Identify the original source of the reference
Explain the meaning of the reference as it relates to the story.
–
Example:
The name Helen (title)
Refers to Helen of Troy from Greek mythology
Helen is the name of the character Vita wants to portray in her
school play. Vita dreams of having the same characteristics
and power as Helen of Troy.
**You should find 9 allusions
Activity
• P. 136 Questions 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9,10
• Writing p. 136 Impossible Dream?
• Min. ½ page
• p. 137 Grammar Link – Coordinating
Conjunctions
• Make sure to use all of the conjunctions