Perseus

Perseus Objective

I will learn how to identify important vocabulary, characters, and places in order to write my own summary of the text.

Myth

Myths are sacred tales that explain the world and man's experience. Myths are as relevant today as they were to the ancients because they answer timeless questions and serve as a compass to each generation.

As you read, ask yourself: 1. Why does the Perseus myth keep getting passed down to later civilizations? 2. What qualities make Perseus a hero?

What character traits did Perseus possess that were favorable to the Ancient Greeks?

Are these qualities still valued today?

What's the lesson or moral of this myth?

Athane (Athena)

Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, law, and justice.

She speaks to Perseus to start the myth.

Athena tells Perseus to cut off Medusa's head.

three Grey Sisters

who have but one eye and one tooth between them.

They tell Perseus he needs to follow the sun until he gets to Atlas the Giant.

Atlas

holds heaven and earth apart.

His daughters are the Hesperides. They are goddess nymphs, immortal sisters who dance around a golden tree.

Atlas will help Perseus find the Gorgon as long as he promises to show Atlas Medusa's head.

Nymphs

Atlas tells Perseus he can't defeat the Gorgon without an invisibility hat.

Perseus can't retrieve the hat because he's mortal.

Hades

the underworld; hell; Sheol. No mortal can travel there.

One of the nymphs must travel to Hades, the underworld, to fetch the invisibility hat. It takes her seven days.

Medusa

sister of the Gorgons.

She was very beautiful until her pride caused her to sin.

As punishment, her hair was turned to snakes, and her hands to eagles' claws; her lips are poison.

Anyone who looks into Medusa's eyes is turned to stone.

Gorgon

Three sisters known individually as Euryale, Stheno and, perhaps the most familiar of all, Medusa.

The first two are immortal, but Medusa is not.

They guard the gates to the Underworld.

Open Ended

What does the word immortal mean?

Multiple Choice

What does Athane give Perseus to assist him in killing Medusa?

• a sword

• a polished shield with a goatskin bag attached

Fill in the Blanks

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Open Ended

REREAD SECTIONS 20 - 22. At first, Perseus pities the Grey Sisters because they are blind, unable to eat, and cold. What causes his feeling toward them to change?

Multiple Choice

What does Perseus do with the eye he takes from the three Grey Sisters?

• tosses it into the sea

• gives it back to them as promised

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Choice

The nymphs don't know the way to the Gorgon, but Atlas, their uncle does. Atlas tells Perseus he'll need a special ____ to keep him from being seen.

• hat

• cloak

Fill in the Blanks

Open Ended

A summary is a brief statement that gives the most important information about something.

Write your own 5 sentence summary of this myth. Your summary must cover the most important events throughout the entire plot. (the whole story)