Myths and Legends

Heroes and Quests

What Do Myths and Legends Teach Us About Society?

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Norse Myths

Arthurian Legends

Romantic Literature

Archetypes

Your Turn

• serves to explain beliefs, rituals, or natural phenomena

Myths and Legends

Myths are traditional stories rooted in a particular culture. A myth . . .

• is basically religious in nature

• reveals the ideals and values of a society

Myths vs. Folk tales

Throughout history, people have used myths to explain . . .

• the creation of the world

• events and elements in nature

• ancient religious beliefs and practices

Myths and Legends

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.

Which two elements do not appear in myths or legends?

Myths and Legends

Quick Check

• extraordinary deeds

• explanation of natural phenomena

• scientific proofs

• 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.

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The Major Greek Gods

and GoddessesThe Olympians

The Olympians

ZEUSZEUS(Jupiter, Jove)(Jupiter, Jove)

Roman name Jupiter or Jove• Zeus was the Zeus was the supreme god of the supreme god of the OlympiansOlympians

• He was in charge He was in charge of the sky and of the sky and weather. (He shot weather. (He shot lightening bolts.)lightening bolts.)

• Had many affairs Had many affairs with mortal women with mortal women (who bore heroes)(who bore heroes)

HeraHera(Juno)(Juno)

Roman name Juno• Queen of the Queen of the Olympian gods.Olympian gods.

• Sister and wife of Sister and wife of Zeus.Zeus.

• Goddess of Goddess of marriage, wealthmarriage, wealth

• Very jealous of Very jealous of her husband’s her husband’s affairsaffairs

APHRODITEAPHRODITE(Venus)(Venus)

Roman name Venus• goddess of love, goddess of love, beauty; and fertilitybeauty; and fertility

• protectress of sailors. protectress of sailors. • Her son was Eros, Her son was Eros,

whose Roman name whose Roman name was Cupidwas Cupid

• married to married to Hephaestus, the Hephaestus, the lame god of lame god of blacksmithingblacksmithing

ARESARES(Mars)(Mars)

Roman name Mars

• Ares was the god Ares was the god of offensive warof offensive war

• He had an affair He had an affair with Aphroditewith Aphrodite

• Cruel and Cruel and bloodthirstybloodthirsty

• Called the “Red Called the “Red God”God”

HEPHAESTUSHEPHAESTUS(Vulcan)(Vulcan)

Roman name Vulcan• Hephaestus was the Hephaestus was the

lame god of fire and lame god of fire and metal crafts (of metal crafts (of blacksmiths)blacksmiths)

• He was the only ugly He was the only ugly godgod

• Workshop under a Workshop under a volcanovolcano

• God of volcanoesGod of volcanoes• Made armor for the Made armor for the

gods and heroesgods and heroes

ARTEMISARTEMIS(Diana)(Diana)

Roman name Diana• Goddess of the Goddess of the moon, the hunt, moon, the hunt, and wild animalsand wild animals

• Apollo’s twinApollo’s twin• Goddess of women Goddess of women

in childbirthin childbirth• Could bring sudden Could bring sudden

death with her death with her arrows.arrows.

DIONYSUSDIONYSUS(Bacchus)(Bacchus)

Roman name Bacchus• Dionysus was the god of Dionysus was the god of grapes/wine and fertilitygrapes/wine and fertility

• God of drama and God of drama and theatertheater

• Plays were performed in Plays were performed in his honorhis honor

• His festival in Rome was His festival in Rome was called the “Bacchanalia”called the “Bacchanalia”

• sometimes portrayed as sometimes portrayed as a satyr in later Greek and a satyr in later Greek and Roman history.Roman history.

HERMESHERMES(Mercury)(Mercury)

Roman name Mercury• Hermes was the Hermes was the messenger of the messenger of the gods and guide of gods and guide of dead souls to the dead souls to the Underworld.Underworld.

• God of travelers God of travelers and theivesand theives

• He wore winged He wore winged sandals and carried sandals and carried a snake-winged a snake-winged scepterscepter

POSEIDONPOSEIDON(Neptune)(Neptune)

Roman name Neptune• Poseidon was the Poseidon was the god of the sea, god of the sea, earthquakes, and earthquakes, and horses. horses.

• Sons named Triton Sons named Triton and Proteusand Proteus

• Over mermen and Over mermen and mermaidsmermaids

• Over all sea Over all sea monstersmonsters

• was officially one of was officially one of the supreme gods of the supreme gods of Mount Olympus, he Mount Olympus, he spent most of his spent most of his time in his watery time in his watery domain.domain.

APOLLOAPOLLO(Apollo)(Apollo)

Roman name Apollo

• Apollo was the god Apollo was the god of the sun and twin of the sun and twin to Artemisto Artemis

• He was also the He was also the god who controlled god who controlled prophesy, music, prophesy, music, the arts, healing, the arts, healing, athletes, and athletes, and poetry.poetry.

ATHENAATHENA(Minerva)(Minerva)

Roman name Minerva• Athena was the Athena was the

goddess of defensive goddess of defensive warwar

• Goddess of wisdom, Goddess of wisdom, and and the domestic and and the domestic arts (weaving)arts (weaving)

• she was the patron she was the patron goddess of Athens.goddess of Athens.

• Her symbol was the Her symbol was the owlowl

• She sprang fully grown She sprang fully grown and dressed in armor and dressed in armor from Zeus’s headfrom Zeus’s head

DEMETERDEMETER(Ceres)(Ceres)

Roman name Cerus• Demeter was the Demeter was the

goddess of goddess of agriculture and the agriculture and the harvestharvest

• She was the sister She was the sister of Zeus and the of Zeus and the mother of mother of PersephonePersephone

• She is the reason She is the reason we have seasonswe 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

HADESHADES(Pluto)(Pluto)

Roman name Pluto• Hades was the God Hades was the God of the Dead and ruler of the Dead and ruler of the Underworld of the Underworld (which was called (which was called Hades after the god)Hades after the god)

• Hades abducted Hades abducted Persephone, who Persephone, who became his queenbecame his queen

• Like Poseidon, he did Like Poseidon, he did not live on Mt. not live on Mt. Olympus, but rather Olympus, but rather in Hades itself.in Hades itself.

PERSEPHONEPERSEPHONE(Proserpina)(Proserpina)Roman name Pluto• Daughter of Daughter of

DemeterDemeter• Goddess of the Goddess of the

springspring• Kidnapped by Kidnapped by

Hades and made Hades and made his wifehis wife

• Queen of the Queen of the UnderworldUnderworld

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

TrustworthyHonest

Good communicator

Strong leader

Intelligent

Confident

Inspirational

High values

Responsible to others

Strength

Courageous

Positive

Adventurous

Motivated

Hopeful

Good Role Model

Extraordinary Talent

Heroines

Many writers now consider hero, long restricted to men in the sense "a person noted for courageous action," to be a gender-neutral term. It is used to refer to admired women as well as men in respected publications.

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.

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.

Match each numbered item to its literary genre.

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

7. an impossible task

A. Norse myths

B. Arthurian legends

C. Probably both

[End of Section]

Romantic Literature

The legends of King Arthur are part of the larger genre of Romantic literature.

These legends developed in twelfth-century 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.

brave

honorable

generous to his foes

respectful of women

protective of the weak

A knight was expected to be . . .

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.

Hero/Heroine

Superhumanqualities

Conflict

Quest

Outcomeof quest

Divine intervention

1. What other traits were included in the code of chivalry?

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.

2. What kind of help is a hero likely to have during the quest?

[End of Section]

Analyze Myths and Legends

• 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]

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:

The End