Atlas & Odysseus

The Weight of the World

Atlas was a Titan warrior who fought against Zeus. The Titans wanted to be in charge of the mortal world, so Atlas led them in a fight against Zeus. In the end, Zeus won and punished Atlas, the fiercest Titan warrior. In Ancient Greek mythology, Atlas' punishment was to carry the weight of the heavens and sky on his shoulders for eternity. The weight Atlas had to endure was an enormous burden. Today, if someone is said to be carrying "the weight of the world" on their shoulders, they have a great burden or many problems to deal with.

The phrase weight of the world typically refers to...

• feeling unmoved by a situation that is beyond one's control

• a literal, physical weight someone is required to carry

• a heavy burden someone feels when making difficult decisions or having a huge responsibility.

The Weight of the World

Atlas was a Titan warrior who fought against Zeus. The Titans wanted to be in charge of the mortal world, so Atlas led them in a fight against Zeus. In the end, Zeus won and punished Atlas, the fiercest Titan warrior. In Ancient Greek mythology, Atlas' punishment was to carry the weight of the heavens and sky on his shoulders for eternity. The weight Atlas had to endure was an enormous burden. Today, if someone is said to be carrying "the weight of the world" on their shoulders, they have a great burden or many problems to deal with.

Which of the following is a synonym for the word eternity?

• forever

• moment

• history

The Weight of the World

Atlas was a Titan warrior who fought against Zeus. The Titans wanted to be in charge of the mortal world, so Atlas led them in a fight against Zeus. In the end, Zeus won and punished Atlas, the fiercest Titan warrior. In Ancient Greek mythology, Atlas' punishment was to carry the weight of the heavens and sky on his shoulders for eternity. The weight Atlas had to endure was an enormous burden. Today, if someone is said to be carrying "the weight of the world" on their shoulders, they have a great burden or many problems to deal with.

What does the word burden mean as it is used in the story?

• to carry something very heavy

• a duty or responsibility that is hard to bear

• to cost more than it's worth

The Weight of the World

Atlas was a Titan warrior who fought against Zeus. The Titans wanted to be in charge of the mortal world, so Atlas led them in a fight against Zeus. In the end, Zeus won and punished Atlas, the fiercest Titan warrior. In Ancient Greek mythology, Atlas' punishment was to carry the weight of the heavens and sky on his shoulders for eternity. The weight Atlas had to endure was an enormous burden. Today, if someone is said to be carrying "the weight of the world" on their shoulders, they have a great burden or many problems to deal with.

Which sentence makes sense?

• He carried the weight of the world and placed it in the car.

• The politician felt the weight of the world on his shoulders as he endured public opinion.

• The weight of the world made Annie very tired.

ODYSSEY

Odysseus was a brilliant Greek hero. He was renowned for his trickery and intellect during the Trojan War. He famously used a wooden horse to trick the Trojans into letting him and the Greeks into their city. After ten years of fighting, he was able to help the Greeks win the war. On his way home, Odysseus angered the god Poseidon by blinding his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. As punishment, Poseidon cursed Odysseus' voyage home. He was forced to ravel the seas for many years, going through several adventures and hardships. Today, an odyssey refers to a long journey with great adventure and challenges along the way.

The term odyssey typically refers to...

• a ten year struggle to return home from a long trip

• a short vacation taken to explore or tour a new place

• a long journey involving many obstacles and adventures

ODYSSEY

Odysseus was a brilliant Greek hero. He was renowned for his trickery and intellect during the Trojan War. He famously used a wooden horse to trick the Trojans into letting him and the Greeks into their city. After ten years of fighting, he was able to help the Greeks win the war. On his way home, Odysseus angered the god Poseidon by blinding his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. As punishment, Poseidon cursed Odysseus' voyage home. He was forced to ravel the seas for many years, going through several adventures and hardships. Today, an odyssey refers to a long journey with great adventure and challenges along the way.

Which of the following is a synonym for the word voyage?

• journey

• stroll

• challenge

ODYSSEY

Odysseus was a brilliant Greek hero. He was renowned for his trickery and intellect during the Trojan War. He famously used a wooden horse to trick the Trojans into letting him and the Greeks into their city. After ten years of fighting, he was able to help the Greeks win the war. On his way home, Odysseus angered the god Poseidon by blinding his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. As punishment, Poseidon cursed Odysseus' voyage home. He was forced to ravel the seas for many years, going through several adventures and hardships. Today, an odyssey refers to a long journey with great adventure and challenges along the way.

What does the word renowned mean as used in the story?

• able to make a smart decison

• known and praised by many; famous

• not able to be explained; puzzling

ODYSSEY

Odysseus was a brilliant Greek hero. He was renowned for his trickery and intellect during the Trojan War. He famously used a wooden horse to trick the Trojans into letting him and the Greeks into their city. After ten years of fighting, he was able to help the Greeks win the war. On his way home, Odysseus angered the god Poseidon by blinding his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. As punishment, Poseidon cursed Odysseus' voyage home. He was forced to ravel the seas for many years, going through several adventures and hardships. Today, an odyssey refers to a long journey with great adventure and challenges along the way.

Which sentence makes sense?

• Our month-long odyssey around Greece was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• They odyssey to town and back was uneventful.

• His quick odyssey to the library proved helpful.