Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths

Throughout the collection, characters who perceive themselves as strong prey on those who they deem weaker: Poseidon with Demeter, Hera with Hephaestus, the sea captain and his crew with Arion, the bandits with Theseus, and others. Select two examples and analyze how the supposedly weaker parties respond to their circumstances. How do these myths suggest it is possible to react to threats from powerful forces?

Is Zeus’s punishment of Prometheus justified according to the standards of the ancient pantheon? Why or why not? Defend your position using at least three examples of divine justice from the book.

Discuss the function of storytelling in the ancient Greek myths. What does it achieve or enable? Draw on at least three specific examples from the stories in your discussion.

Orpheus tells Hades that releasing Eurydice’s soul back to the living world would be a “brilliant act of kindness” that "will make cruelty seem like justice for all the rest of time” (88). What does Orpheus mean by this? Does he have a real chance of bringing Eurydice back to life? Support your argument with at least three specific pieces of evidence from god-mortal relationships portrayed in the collection.

After reading the collection, do you agree or disagree with Evslin’s claim that the myths have “a moral quality” (10)? Explain why or why not, drawing on at least four events portrayed in the text.

When Perseus asks his mother what it means to be the son of an immortal, she replies, “[a] hero. Or a very great scoundrel” (122). Select three heroes and analyze their characters. What does it mean to be a hero in ancient Greek mythology?

Psyche’s story ended in multiple different ways in antiquity, as Evslin references in his retelling. Discuss the significance of his choice to include variants, considering how a single ending might affect the story’s impact.

Midas complains to Apollo, “You pretended to forgive me, but you punished me with a gift!” (204). Explore the implications of Midas’s evolution from the beginning of the myth to the end. In what ways does he act and not act like a typical mythical hero?