Hades: Welcome to the Underworld

PART A: Which sentence describes the main idea of the text?

• A. The Underworld is a terrifying place that people spend their lives attempting to avoid.

• B. Hades and the Underworld are unfairly judged by the living, despite offering the dead a pleasant afterlife.

• C. The Underworld is a complex place, where Hades decides how the dead will spend their afterlife.

• D. Hades makes it extremely difficult for people to travel to the Underworld, as he wishes to keep his territory a secret.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• A. "You see, you are no longer in the land of the living, a world commanded by Zeus. You are now in his brother's kingdom." (Paragraph 1)

• B. "You see, Cerberus ensures that none but the souls of the dead enter the Underworld—unless accompanied by me!" (Paragraph 5)

• C. "That is the pit of Tartarus. You should never want a closer look than this. Tartarus is a land of pain, despair, and punishment." (Paragraph 6)

• D. "For those who are deserving, Hades will reward them in the Elysian Fields. But Hades will eternally punish those who cross him or anger the gods." (Paragraph 8)

PART A: Which of the following describes Hermes' attitude towards the person he is taking on a tour of the Underworld?

• A. Hermes is helpful and comforting towards the person on the tour, as he shows them the Underworld and tells them about it.

• B. Hermes is apologetic towards the person on the tour for showing them the frightening sights of monsters and Hades.

• C. Hermes is irritated towards the person on the tour, as it is clear that the individual is afraid of the Underworld.

• D. Hermes is snobby towards the person on the tour, as he knows so much more about the Underworld than the other person.

PART B: Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• A. "I am here to welcome you into this realm and to guide you through it. At the end of the tour, I will escort you back to the land of the living." (Paragraph 2)

• B. "Cerberus is a massive, fearsome beast. I am sure you have heard tales of him, but seeing him in person can be intimidating." (Paragraph 5)

• C. "Every Greek knows that Zeus reigns over all other gods. He presides over them and the living from his home on Mt. Olympus." (Paragraph 7)

• D. "No matter how hungry or thirsty he gets, he will never be able to reach for the fruit or the water. Imagine how tantalizing that must be!" (Paragraph 8)

How does a person's life on Earth affect their experiences in the Underworld?

(a)  

In Ancient Greece, myths helped people understand the world. How do you think the myths about the Underworld and Hades helped people make sense of death? Do you think believing that Hades and the Underworld existed brought them comfort? Why or why not?

In the text, Hermes discusses how your behavior during life affects your afterlife. How do you think the myths about the Underworld and Hades affected how people led their lives? What drives the values you live your life by?

In the text, Hermes offers readers a tour of the Underworld. If you could take a tour of any place, real or fictitious, where would it be and why?