Mythology! with Arachne and Icarus

How do we find THEMES?

• Look at the title, setting, and characters.
• Examine the conflict and come up with a main idea.
• Make inferences about your claim and cite evidence.
• Examine how the characters OVERCOME or FAIL TO SOLVE their problems.

What is the best definition of myths?

• Stories about people learning lessons.
• Stories that people write about their own lives, from first person POV.
• Old stories that explain the world, and offer wisdom on how people should live in it.
• Stories that have a lot of figurative language.

Why do we study myths?

• Because they have a lot of figurative language.
• They're the only texts with stage directions, so we can study body language.
• Other works of literature frequently allude to them.
• They're old and famous.

What's another reason we study myths?

• We can learn life lessons about the world and humanity from them.
• That figurative language, though!
• We wouldn't understand any other stories without them.
• They're seriously rich and famous!

What is one of the purposes of “Arachne”?

• A. to explain how weaving developed
• B. to explain the creation of the gods
• C. to explain how spiders came into the world
• D. to explain how the first rules were established

Arachne refuses to take the old woman’s advice and calls her stupid. How would the ancient Greeks describe Arachne’s behavior?

• A. unimportant
• B. foolish
• C. cruel
• D. normal

During the weaving contest, Athene (the disguised old woman) weaves a warning to Arachne. What does Athene’s weaving show?

• A. the natural beauty of Greece
• B. what happens to mortals who compete against gods
• C. the miraculous powers of the gods
• D. humans being rewarded for respecting the gods

Why does Arachne try to hang herself?

• A. She thinks she will not die.
• B. Her weaving is not good.
• C. She is angry with her father.
• D. Athene has insulted her.

Why does Arachne’s punishment fit her crime?

• A. She will no longer be able to spin.
• B. In her new form, she will live on and spin.
• C. Everyone will fear her instead of admiring her.
• D. In her new form, she will be tiny.

Which character trait is the cause of Arachne’s downfall?

• A. silliness
• B. curiosity
• C. pride
• D. selfishness