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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Persephone was enchanted by Orpheus' music, and Hades agreed to release Eurydice, on what condition?

2. These gods were the children of the ____________, who were the children of heaven and earth.

3. Hercules was the son of Zeus and whom?

4. Atalanta was raised by ____________ and became a great huntress.

5. Perseus was famous for killing ___________, a Gorgon whose gaze could turn a man to stone.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe one of the Greek creation stories. How does this story compare to your own idea regarding the creation of the world?

2. What is the lesson that is to be learned in the story of Phaeton? How is this an important lesson?

3. Choose two of the Greek gods or goddesses. Describe the personalities and roles of these gods or goddesses.

4. How did Medea help Jason? Why did she help him? Should she have helped him? Why or why not?

5. Describe Greek heroes. What was the most common flaw? Is this a common flaw in humanity? Why or why not?

6. Should Greek mythology be understood as a bible of sorts? Why or why not?

7. What are two ancient sources that can be used to study Greek mythology? How is each of these sources useful?

8. Why was Perseus famous? Does this make him a hero? Why or why not?

9. What do all of these stories reveal about the gods?

10. What ended when Atalanta was married? What does this reinforce in Greek culture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author states that Greek mythology should not be seen as a Bible of religious belief.

Part 1) What is meant by this statement? How should Greek mythology be viewed? Why should it not be understood as a Bible of religious belief? How might this affect one's belief in the Greek gods? How does this affect the power of these gods?

Part 2) How did this give freedom to various Greek writers and thinkers throughout history? How did these writers and thinkers influence Greek mythology? Why did they influence it in this way?

Part 3) Would a religion such as what is known as Greek mythology flourish today? Why or why not? What is necessary for a religion to be successful today? How does this reflect mankind today? What does it also reveal about the ancient Greeks?

Essay Topic 2

There are two families discussed in this book who suffer greatly.

Part 1) Who are these two families? How did they become so unlucky? Were they deserving of this bad luck? Why or why not? Could this luck have been avoided? If so, how? If not, why not? Could anyone in these families have stopped the passing along of bad luck? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 2) What do these stories say about those who act poorly and offend the gods? What do these stories also say about the gods themselves? In our own culture, do we believe that bad luck can be passed down through a family? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you believe in luck? Why or why not? How did you come to have this belief? How does this belief influence your daily decisions and actions? Might your belief regarding luck ever change? If so, how? If not, why not?

Essay Topic 3

The author states that Greek mythology should not be seen as a Bible of religious belief.

Part 1) What is meant by this statement? How should Greek mythology be viewed? Why should it not be understood as a Bible of religious belief? How might this affect one's belief in the Greek gods? How does this affect the power of these gods?

Part 2) How did this give freedom to various Greek writers and thinkers throughout history? How did these writers and thinkers influence Greek mythology? Why did they influence it in this way?

Part 3) Would a religion such as what is known as Greek mythology flourish today? Why or why not? What is necessary for a religion to be successful today? How does this reflect mankind today? What does it also reveal about the ancient Greeks?

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