Active Reading Note-Taking Guide
Chapter 5 The Ancient Greeks
Chapter 5, Section 1
The Culture of Ancient Greece
(Pages 154-163)
Main Idea
Setting a Purpose for Reading
Think about these questions as
you read:
• What were the main religious
beliefs of the Greeks?
• How did Greek art and
architecture reflect Greek ideas?
p. 89
Chapter 5, Section 1
The Culture of Ancient Greece Pages 154-163)
Reading Strategy
As you read pages 155–159 in your textbook, complete this Venn diagram
showing the similarities and differences between an epic and a fable.
•long poem
•tells stories of
heroic deeds
•based in history
•short story
•animals talk and
•Greek stories
act like humans
• taught a lesson
•points out human
flaws and strengths
ends with a moral
p. 89
Delphi
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Mythology (Pages 155-156)
Terms to Know
myth: traditional ancient story dealing
with gods, goddesses, or heroes
oracle: sacred shrine where a priest or
priestess spoke for a god or goddess
Epics: these long poems told about
heroic deeds; the first epics were the
Iliad and Odyssey
Fable: a short tale that teaches a lesson
p. 90
Terms to Know
Drama – drama is a story told by actors who
pretend to be characters in the story.
Tragedy – in a tragedy, a person struggles to
overcome difficulties but fails; as a result, the
story has an unhappy ending.
Comedy – any drama that has a happy ending.
Greek Gods and Goddesses
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Myths: traditional stories about gods and heroes
Used to express people’s religious beliefs
Polytheistic
Gods and goddesses affected everyday life, shaped
events, and controlled nature
Lived on Mount Olympus
12 important gods (pg 155, Demeter is missing!)
Looked and acted like human beings
Followed many rituals (actions carried out in a specific
way)
Believed in afterlife
What was a Greek Oracle?
• Greeks believed in destiny and
prophecy
• Many visited the Oracle who
would make predictions and
prophecies
• Most famous: Oracle at Delphi
• Story of King Croesus (hahaha!)
Greek Poetry and Fables
• Oldest in the Western world
• Epics: earliest Greek stories, which were long
poems about heroic deeds
• Homer wrote the Iliad and the Odyssey
• The Iliad: tells the story of the Trojan War
• The Odyssey: tells the story of Odysseus after
he journeys home from the Trojan War
• Greeks believed these stories were real
history!
• Stories taught courage, honor, loyalty, and love
Who Was Aesop?
• Read the three paragraphs on
p. 158 under “Who was
Aesop?” and answer the
question. Determine the main
idea from each paragraph. We
will compare your answer to
mine.
Who Was Aesop?
• Greek slave who created fables (stories that
teach a lesson)
• Most of his fables were funny and had animals
that talk (ex: The Tortoise and the Hare)
• Had morals (x: Slow and steady wins the race)
• Part of Greek oral tradition for 200 years and
were written down later
Greek Drama
• Drama: stories told by actors who pretend to be characters
in the story
• Tragedies and comedies
• Greek tragedy writers: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides
• Greek comedy writer: Aristophanes
• Early tragedies had only one actor
• Aeschylus: introduced 2 actors into plays ad wrote Oresteia
• Sophocles: used 3 actors and scenery, wrote Oedipus Rex
and Antigone
• Euripides: more down to earth and real
• Aristophanes: made fun of leading politicians and scholars
and had jokes
Greek Art and Architecture
• Greek artists want people
to see reason, moderation,
balance, and harmony in
their work
• Greek paintings on pottery
• Architecture (Parthenon)
• Used Doric, Ionian, and
Corinthian columns
• Temples decorated with
sculpture
Places To Locate
Mount Olympus: the highest
mountain in Greece, home to
the gods
Delphi: location of the most
famous Greek oracle, at the
Temple of Apollo
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Mythology (Pages 155-156)
Sum It Up
Why did the Greeks have rituals
and festivals for their gods and
goddesses?
The Greeks believed that the
gods and goddesses had
the power to affect people’s
lives and to shape events.
p. 91
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Poetry and Fables (pages 157–158)
Summarizing
The Odyssey: This is the story of the Greek hero
Odysseus and his ten-year journey home from the
Trojan War.
The Iliad: This is the story of the battle for Troy in
which the Greeks hide soldiers in a wooden horse to
trick the Trojans and win the war.
“The Tortoise and the Hare”: This fable tells the story
of a tortoise that wins a race against a hare and
teaches the moral that “slow and steady wins the
race.”
p. 91
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Poetry and Fables (pages 157–158)
Terms to Know
epic: a long Greek poem that told a heroic story
fable: a short story that teaches a lesson
People To Meet
Homer: Greek poet who wrote the Iliad and the
Odyssey
Aesop: Greek slave who wrote fables
p. 92
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Poetry and Fables (pages 157–158)
Academic Vocabulary
skip
Sum It Up
What are the characteristics of a fable?
A fable is a short tale that teaches a lesson,
animals often have human abilities, it is
often funny, it points out human flaws
and strengths, and it ends with a moral.
p. 92
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Poetry and Fables (pages 157–
158)
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Drama (pages 160–161)
Connecting
Skip
Terms To Know
drama: a story told by actors who pretend to be
characters in the story
tragedy: a drama with a sad ending
comedy: a drama with a happy ending
p. 93
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Drama (pages 160–161)
People To Meet
Sophocles: Greek general and playwright, best
known for his tragedies
Euripides: Greek playwright known for his
tragedies
Academic Vocabulary
skip
p. 93-94
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Drama (pages 160–161)
Sum It Up
What two types of drama did the
Greeks create?
The two types of drama were
comedies and tragedies.
p. 94
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Art and Architecture (pages 162–163)
Synthesizing
As you read, find information to answer the first two questions. Then use
these answers to respond to the third question below.
1. What beliefs and ideas are reflected in Greek art
and architecture?
2. Where do we see examples of Greek architecture
today?
3. Synthesize: How has ancient Greece influenced
our culture today?
p. 94
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Art and Architecture (pages 162–163)
Synthesizing
As you read, find information to answer the first two questions. Then use
these answers to respond to the third question below.
1. What beliefs and ideas are reflected in
Greek art and architecture?
reason, moderation, balance, harmony,
Perfection, and beauty
p. 94
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Art and Architecture (pages 162–163)
Synthesizing
As you read, find information to answer the first two questions. Then use
these answers to respond to the third question below.
2. Where do we see examples of Greek
architecture today?
in churches and government buildings
p. 94
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Art and Architecture (pages 162–163)
Synthesizing
As you read, find information to answer the first two questions. Then use
these answers to respond to the third question below.
3. Synthesize: How has ancient Greece
influenced our culture today?
Greek ideals in art and architecture are
connected with important institutions like
the government and church. Today, many of
our government buildings and places of
worship are some of the most beautiful p. 94
buildings in the world.
Chapter 5, Section 1
Greek Art and Architecture (pages 162–163)
Academic Vocabulary
skip
Sum It Up
What was the most important type of
building in ancient Greece?
The most important type of building in ancient
Greece were temples dedicated to gods and
goddesses.
p. 95
Chapter 5, Section 1
The Culture of Ancient Greece (Pages 154-163)
Section Wrap Up
What were the main religious beliefs
of the Greeks?
The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses
controlled nature and shaped their lives.
p. 95
The Greeks believed that gods and goddesses
controlled nature and shaped their lives.
Chapter 4, Section 1
The Early Greeks
(Pages 116–123)
Section Wrap Up
How did Greek art and architecture
reflect Greek ideas?
The art and architecture showed Greek ideals
of reason, moderation, balance, harmony,
perfection and beauty.
p. 95