1. Greek Mythology

2. Background Ancient Greeks believed in gods and goddesses
Zeus ruled all gods
Zeus and his wife, Hera lived on Mount Olympus
Each god or goddess is linked to an idea or part of nature
Ancient Greeks believed the gods and goddesses taught lessons to people who were too proud or arrogant

3. Characteristics of Myths
Created by ancient people
Originally existed as an oral narrative
Explain natural occurrences
Express beliefs about right and wrong
Feature gods and goddesses who have human traits or human heroes with superhuman traits
Explore universal themes

4. Characteristics of Epic Tales
A long narrative poem or story
Deals with the deed of a traditional or historical hero
Supernatural beings or heroes
Usually involves the hero going off on an important quest
Uses narrative and literary techniques

5. New Literary Language Oxymoron—combines two contradictory terms
Sweet sorrow
Icy hot
Pun—a play on words
The ballet shoes made a point
I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

6. Why the Seasons Change
Scientists explain the changing of the seasons as the rotating of the Earth vs the Earth’s revolution around the Sun
The Ancient Greeks explain the seasons with the story of “Demeter and Persephone”

7. “Demeter and Persephone”
Includes several characteristics of myths:
Explains a natural occurrence: why seasons change
Contains gods and goddesses with human traits
Explores universal themes of want & plenty and love & loss

8. Gods & Goddesses in “Demeter and Persephone”
Pluto – King of the Underworld
Aphrodite – goddess of love & beauty
Eros – god of love (Cupid to the Romans)
Demeter – goddess of the harvest
Persephone – daughter of Demeter
Zeus – Master of all Gods & Goddesses
Hermes – messenger of the Gods

9. “Demeter and Persephone”
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