Arachne Myth

Which statement best describes the theme or message of the myth?

• Though you have mastered something, it is important to stay humble.

• Challenging the gods is something all humans should attempt to do.

• It is imporant to know where you come from.

• Sharing is an important quality to possess.

What motivation does Arachne possess?

• Arachne was never one to say no to a competition, so she accepted Athena's challenge to weave a tapestry better than her.

• Arachne was proud of her weaving skill that she developed with her own weaving powers and wanted to show that humans could be better than the gods by working hard.

• Arachne's plan to scorn the gods by creating a tapestry that showed how evil they were makes Athena angry.

• Arachne wanted to be a goddess herself, so she challenged Athena to take her place on Mt Olympus.

What motivation does Athena have by disguising herself as an old lady?

• As the old woman, Athena wants to spy on Arachne and see how skillful her weaving really is.

• As the old woman, Athena is able to punish Arachne for the way she talks about being equal to Athena herself.

• As the old woman, Athena gives Arachne the chance to take back her words and be content with her celebrity for weaving.

• As the old woman, Athena wants to challenge Arachne and prove that she is the more skillful weaver.

From the description of Arachne in lines 8 - 14, this is

• motivation - how she looks gives Athena the idea for what she will turn into

• conflict - the description suggests that she will challenge Athena

• resolution - the description tells us that she will turn into a spider.

• foreshadowing - the description of Arachne is very much like that of a spider.

The image of the noose before Athena turns Arachne into a spider is supposed to suggest that

• the noose is meant to remind all spiders who Arachne was and what Athena did to her

• the noose is meant to to explain what Arachne could have done to herself

• the noose is meant to represent the silk that a spider hangs from when it descends

• the noose is meant to show how angry Athena was at Arachne

This myth is also a pourquoi tale. Which does it best explain?

• Why tapestries were important to humans as well as the gods and goddesses.

• Where spiders come from and why they are masters at spinning and weaving.

• How the gods and goddesses punished humans and why.

• Why fathers should stick by their daughters no matter what.