World Mythology Course Description
In this class, students will extend their reading & writing skills. They will develop good reading practices, with emphasis on the Vermont-based "I'm a Reader" program. The vehicle used to develop these skills and to build vocabulary is the topic of World Mythology. Students will read myths from around the world. These myths will help students make connections between classical myths and the real world. When they read other texts in middle school and high school, this class will help them make connections between those texts and classic myths from around the world. By the end of this class, students will understand why a car company might want to name their car the "titan," and will recognize the word "narcisstic" on an SAT or Terra Nova. This class will also integrate drama with language arts. Students will choose a myth, rehearse and perform a short play for the middle school.
For the full course outline, click there ----> World Mythology Course Outline: Quarter 1
Weeks 1 & 2 What is Mythology? Types of Myths, Greek Myths: Creation & the Pantheon, Pandora, Prometheus, Arachne, Phaethon, Narcissus & Echo, Orpheus & Eurydice
Week 3 Greek Myths: Theseus, Daedalus & Icarus, Hercules, references to Greek Myths Around Us, Nature Myth Assignment due, Mythology Webquest
Week 3 Roman Myths: Pygmalion & Galatea, Baucis & Philemon, Daphne & Apollo, Pyramus & Thisbe
Week 4 The Aeneid/The Trojan Horse/ The Fall of Troy
Week 5 The fates/Parcae, Percy Jackson ch 1-5
Week 6 Medusa, Percy Jackson ch 6-10
Week 7 Norse Myths: Creation of the world, Odin's 3 quests, the 9 Worlds, the tree of life
Week 8 Norse Myths: make Odin & Loki posters, The story of Sleipnir, How Thor got his hammer, Loki's Children
Week 9 Celtic & British Myths, Hero Myth Assignment due
Week 10 Japanese & Chinese Myths
Week 11 African Myths
Week 12 Polynesian & Mexican Myths, Mythology Project Due
The homework policy states the following: If the assignment is turned in 1 day late, you will receive 75% of the grade you would have gotten had you handed it in on time. If it is 2 days late, you will receive 50% of the grade you would have gotten had you handed it in on time. Assignments handed in more than 2 days late will not be accepted.
Wednesday, August 31st:
1. Read the Horrible Histories' version of "the creation" of the Greek gods.
2. Make a Venn Diagram of the two stories. What do they have in common? What is different?
Tuesday, September 6th:
1. Study for your quiz on the 12 Olympians.
Wednesday, September 7th:
1. Read the story of Pandora in your mythology texts. If you have lost your text, you can read another version of the myth here: History for Kids: Pandora.
2. Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
a) Why did Zeus order Hephaestus to make a girl out of clay?
b) What did Hermes give Pandora?
c) What escaped from Hermes' gift?
d) What did Pandora trap in the box? What would have happened if it had gotten free? What would the world be like? (If you read the online version, answer these questions instead: What was the last thing to fly out of the box? Why did Zeus put it there? What would the world be like without that last thing?)
e) What does this myth explain?
TBA:
1. Finish reading the Heracles Webquest Online.
2. Define the following words as you read:
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| authentic, deity, prattling | unerring, frenzy, atone | feat, confines, gaping | heroic, storage, Hydra |
| lethal, favor, impeded | fray, cauterizing, immortal | hind, tendons, taskmaker | boar, centaur, venom |
| Quantity, aroma, employing | nuisance, mucky, castanets | vengeful, haunted, duty | mares, pacified, embarked |
| retrieved, expedition, stirred | formidable, foes, dispatched | nymphs, pillar, aid | oblige, eternity, neglecting |
| congregated, wraiths, bribe | glowered, impenetrable, submission | demise, ferry, agony | virtue, phantasm, eternally |
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| Weeks 1 & 2 | What is Mythology? Types of Myths, Greek Myths: Creation & the Pantheon, Pandora, Prometheus, Phaethon, Narcissus & Echo, Orpheus & Eurydice |
| Week 3 | Greek Myths: Theseus, Daedalus & Icarus, Hercules, references to Greek Myths Around Us, Nature Myth Assignment due, Mythology Webquest |
| Week 3 | Roman Myths, Ovid, Even Gods Have Bad Hair Days Writing Project, Baucis & Philemon, Daphne & Apollo, Pyramus & Thisbe |
| Week 4 | The Aeneid |
| Week 5 | finish Aeneid, start play |
| Week 6 | Rehearse & Perform Play |
| Week 7 | Egyptian Myths, Love Myth Assignment Due |
| Week 8 | Norse Myths |
| Week 9 | Celtic & British Myths, Hero Myth Assignment due |
| Week 10 | Japanese & Chinese Myths |
| Week 11 | African Myths |
| Week 12 | Polynesian & Mexican Myths, Mythology Project Due |
