1. Myths
6th Grade Language Arts

2. Definition of a Myth
A traditional or legendary story that deals with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes; intended to explain the mysteries of the natural world, or the customs or ideals of a society.
From Kyrene School District Reading Curriculum Glossary
Cassandra's Murder

3. Myths From the Greek mythos, myth means story or word
Mythology is the study of myths
Symbolic tales of the distant past that concern the origin and nature of the universe
May be connected to belief systems or rituals, and may serve to direct social action and values

4. Myths Answered Questions
Explain the natural world
Who are we?
How should we live?
Where are we going?
What is courage?
What is love?
What is the difference between right and wrong?
Zeus

5. Characteristics of Myths
Heroes with supernatural powers
Gods and goddesses as characters
Monsters threaten hero
Explanations are provided for
natural occurrences and human behavior
Magic is present
Cultural values are expressed
From Holt Elements of Literature Skills Practice

6. Heroes with Supernatural Powers
Examples:
Hercules - famed warrior. But Zeus's jealous wife, Hera, made him temporarily insane, and he killed his wife and children. As punishment Heracles performed twelve seemingly impossible labors
Achilles - the strongest and most fearless warrior in the Greek war against the Trojans
Theseus - using a ball of magic thread from the princess Ariadne, found his way in and out of the labyrinth and killed the beast

7. Gods and Goddesses as Characters
Examples:
Zeus - god of the sky and the king of Olympus
Hera - goddess of marriage and the queen of Olympus
Apollo - god of music and healing
Aphrodite - goddess of love and beauty
Ares – god of war

8. Monsters Threaten Hero
Examples:
Cyclopes - gigantic and had a single eye in the middle of its forehead
Hydra - massive and poisonous serpent with nine heads
Minotaur - man-eating monster with the head of a bull
Gorgons - horrifyingly ugly monsters, with hair was made of serpents, and one look from a Gorgon's eyes would turn a man to stone (i.e. Medusa)

9. Explanations are Provided for Natural Occurrences and Human Behavior
Examples:
Crops failed, Demeter was unhappy
Businesses prospered, Athena favored them
Lighting bolts were hurled by Zeus when he was angry
Rising sun was Helios in a luminous chariot driving across the sky

10. Magic is Present Medusa – turning people to stone
Pandora’s Box containing all the evils (greed, vanity, slander, envy, etc.)
Beautiful Io turned into a cow
Echo – could only repeat what someone said to her

11. Cultural Values are Expressed
Examples:
Arachne boasted about her weaving and the goddess Athena turned her into a spider
Narcissus was too egotistical, made to fall in love with himself and died