The Beginning of the World

What real elements of the natural world were the Greeks trying to understand and explain?

• Greeks tried to explain thunder, the stars and other natural phenomena

• Why elephants can fly.

• How pizza is made

What fantastical characters did they invent to explain them?

• They invented gods, goddesses and superhumans

• They invented Superheroes

• They invented Friendly space aliens

"In the story of the Olympians, what about Rhea and Cronos’s marriage seems realistic? What about the way they solve their problem is fantasy

• Realistic: They celebrated birthdays. Fantasy: They turned into dragons

• Realistic: They had a big family. Fantasy: Cronos swallowed almost all of the children that Rhea bore, then Rhea made him swallow a potion to release the children.

• Realistic: They had family dinners. Fantasy: They talked to animals.

Does the battle for the universe seem realistic? What is fantasy?

• Yes, it does. The battle for the universe seem realistic

• No, it does not seem realistic . The gods fought with magic powers.

In the last part of the story, what realistic, natural events are happening? What is the fantasy explanation for these natural events in the story?

• Realistic: Zeus surrounded Tartarus with walls and gates. Fantasy: It's because the walls were made of magic.

• Realistic: Atlas is a bone that supports the human head. Fantasy: Atlas carries the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  
  

• Realistic: Zeus gave each god a territory to rule. Fantasy: It's because Zeus had a magic wand.