Mythology: Selected Myths and Their Influence Answers

Twilight is a novel about a young human who falls in love with a vampire, even though it is difficult for them to be together. Which work by William Shakespeare most likely influenced this book?

Which character archetype is defined as a strong, capable, intelligent woman who may disguise herself as a man?

"Cupid and Psyche," "Sleeping Beauty," and Shrek share which common archetype?

Read the myth and analyze the image below; then, answer the question that follows. Woman was not yet made. The story (absurd enough!) is that Jupiter made her, and sent her to Prometheus and his brother, to punish them for their presumption in stealing fire from heaven; and man, for accepting the gift. The first woman was named Pandora. She was made in heaven, every god contributing something to perfect her. Venus gave her beauty, Mercury persuasion, Apollo music, etc. Thus equipped, she was conveyed to earth, and presented to Epimetheus, who gladly accepted her, though cautioned by his brother to beware of Jupiter and his gifts. Epimetheus had in his house a jar, in which were kept certain noxious articles, for which, in fitting man for his new abode, he had had no occasion. Pandora was seized with an eager curiosity to know what this jar contained; and one day she slipped off the cover and looked in. Forthwith there escaped a multitude of plagues for hapless man,—such as gout, rheumatism, and colic for his body, and envy, spite, and revenge for his mind,—and scattered themselves far and wide. Pandora hastened to replace the lid! but, alas! the whole contents of the jar had escaped, one thing only excepted, which lay at the bottom, and that was hope. So we see at this day, whatever evils are abroad, hope never entirely leaves us; and while we have that, no amount of other ills can make us completely wretched. Source: Bulfinch, Thomas. "Prometheus and Pandora." Bartleby.com. Bartleby.com, 2011. Web. 7 Mar. 2011. Waterhouse, John W. Pandora. 1896. Private Collection. Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia, Inc., June 2010. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. How does knowing the story of Pandora enrich the viewer's experience and understanding of this painting?

Which theme is communicated by George Herbert's poem "Heaven"?

Which element is common in mythology but is not found in all fiction?

Read the myth and analyze the image below; then, answer the question that follows. Woman was not yet made. The story (absurd enough!) is that Jupiter made her, and sent her to Prometheus and his brother, to punish them for their presumption in stealing fire from heaven; and man, for accepting the gift. The first woman was named Pandora. She was made in heaven, every god contributing something to perfect her. Venus gave her beauty, Mercury persuasion, Apollo music, etc. Thus equipped, she was conveyed to earth, and presented to Epimetheus, who gladly accepted her, though cautioned by his brother to beware of Jupiter and his gifts. Epimetheus had in his house a jar, in which were kept certain noxious articles, for which, in fitting man for his new abode, he had had no occasion. Pandora was seized with an eager curiosity to know what this jar contained; and one day she slipped off the cover and looked in. Forthwith there escaped a multitude of plagues for hapless man,—such as gout, rheumatism, and colic for his body, and envy, spite, and revenge for his mind,—and scattered themselves far and wide. Pandora hastened to replace the lid! but, alas! the whole contents of the jar had escaped, one thing only excepted, which lay at the bottom, and that was hope. So we see at this day, whatever evils are abroad, hope never entirely leaves us; and while we have that, no amount of other ills can make us completely wretched. Source: Bulfinch, Thomas. "Prometheus and Pandora." Bartleby.com. Bartleby.com, 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. Gilray, James. "Pandora Opening Her Box." Cartoon. Wikimedia Commons. 30 Mar. 2009. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. What might this political cartoon mean by using the image of Pandora in its commentary?

Read the excerpt below from the fairy tale "Rumpelstilskin" by the Brothers Grimm and answer the question that follows. By the side of a wood, in a country a long way off, ran a fine stream of water; and upon the stream there stood a mill. The miller's house was close by, and the miller, you must know, had a very beautiful daughter. She was, moreover, very shrewd and clever; and the miller was so proud of her, that he one day told the king of the land, who used to come and hunt in the wood, that his daughter could spin gold out of straw. Now this king was very fond of money; and when he heard the miller's boast his greediness was raised, and he sent for the girl to be brought before him. Then he led her to a chamber in his palace where there was a great heap of straw, and gave her a spinning-wheel, and said, "All this must be spun into gold before morning, as you love your life." It was in vain that the poor maiden said that it was only a silly boast of her father, for that she could do no such thing as spin straw into gold: the chamber door was locked, and she was left alone. She sat down in one corner of the room, and began to bewail her hard fate; when on a sudden the door opened, and a droll-looking little man hobbled in, and said, "Good morrow to you, my good lass; what are you weeping for?" "Alas!" said she, "I must spin this straw into gold, and I know not how." "What will you give me," said the hobgoblin, "to do it for you?" "My necklace," replied the maiden. He took her at her word, and sat himself down to the wheel, and whistled and sang: "Round about, round about, Lo and behold! Reel away, reel away, Straw into gold!" And round about the wheel went merrily; the work was quickly done, and the straw was all spun into gold. When the king came and saw this, he was greatly astonished and pleased; but his heart grew still more greedy of gain, and he shut up the poor miller's daughter again with a fresh task. Then she knew not what to do, and sat down once more to weep; but the dwarf soon opened the door, and said, "What will you give me to do your task?" "The ring on my finger," said she. So her little friend took the ring, and began to work at the wheel again, and whistled and sang: "Round about, round about, Lo and behold! Reel away, reel away, Straw into gold!" till, long before morning, all was done again. Source: Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. "Rumplestiltskin." Project Gutenberg, 12 Dec. 2008. Web. 07 Mar. 2011. Which situational archetype does this story illustrate?

Which aspect of the contemporary novel The Lightning Thief best illustrates the impact of mythic literature on modern literature?

Which archetype does the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe represent?