Mythology Quiz

A story that was created to usually explain the mysteries of the universe and usually features gods and goddesses is called a _____.

• myth

• legend

• tale

Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is:

"Once during a great war, Ares was fighting against the Greeks, and driving them all before him. When Athena saw this, she went to their aid; for she thought that they had been right in the quarrel which had begun the war, and she did not wish to see them defeated. When Ares saw her upon the Greek side in all her armor, he rushed toward her, and threw his terrible spear against her breast. Athena caught the spear point on her shield, and turned it aside. Then she seized a great rock, and hurled it at Ares. Her aim was so sure that it struck him squarely, and knocked him flat upon his back. He was such an enormous fellow that it was said that his body covered seven acres as he lay there on the ground. Ares was so injured by the blow, that he gave up the fight, and fled to Mount Olympus. Then the Greeks, with the help of Athena, won the victory."

• myth

• legend

• tale

Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is: "Well, some folks don't like the weather in Arizona, but I ain't one of 'em. Why, the air in Arizona is so fine, tourists stop over the state line just to fill their tires with it. Course, Arizona does get rather hot. But since we started shippin' in ice from California, our hens don't lay hard boiled eggs no more."

• myth

• legenc

• tale

Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is: "He was especially the herald of Zeus. The Greeks thought that their dreams came from Zeus himself, and that is was Hermes who brought them, flying swiftly downward through the darkness of the night. But besides this, Hermes served as messenger for all the gods, even for Hades in the under-world. When people died, the Greeks thought that it was Hermes who guided their shades to their dark home underneath the ground."

• myth

• legend

• tale

Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is: "We will stay right here!" Lech told them. Thus, Lech became the first Duke of Poland and he assumed leadership of the Western Slays. So, the people began to build a town there on the hill, and Lech chose the white eagle with its wings spread wide as their emblem. They called their town Gniezno, which means "A Nest" in the Slavic language. The town became the capital of their nation. As time went on, their country became known as Poland."

• myth

• legend

• tale

Read the excerpt and determine which type of writing it is: "The salesman was headed towards the mining camp with four bottles of hair tonic under his arm. As he was crossing one of the trout streams which lead to the Arkansas River, the salesman slipped and dropped two bottles of hair tonic into the water. The bottles broke, and the hair tonic spilled into the stream. Not too long after this incident, the fishermen along the Arkansas developed a new method for catching trout. They'd head to the bank of the river carrying a red and white barber pole and some scissors. Then they would set up the barber pole and call out: "Get your free shave and a hair cut here". All the trout whose fur had grown too long or who needed their beards trimmed would hop right out of the water and be picked up by the fishermen. It wasn't until the mills began muddying the waters so much that the fish couldn't see the barber poles that the practice died out."

• myth

• legend

• tale

This type of story usually features gods, goddesses, and other beings with supernatural powers:

• myth

• legend

• tale

Traditional stories were handed down by:

• text message

• word of mouth

• email

• carrier pigeon

This type of story often explains the mysteries of the universe:

• myth

• legend

• tale

Which story usually uses a lot of hyperboles?

• myth

• legend

• tale