WorksheetsSisyphus: Themes and Character Analysis
Total questions: 2
Worksheet time: 10mins
Passage 1: from Gods and Heroes by Carl Friedrich Becker and Ferdinand Schmidt
This is the myth of Sisyphus, who tried to outsmart the Greek gods and was sentenced to push a boulder up a mountain for all eternity.
1 Sisyphus was in the same dreadful place. In the upper world he had been guilty of thefts both among men and the gods. In the very hour of his death he perpetrated an evil deed. He seized and bound Thanatos, the god of death, with brazen bands, and for a long time no one died on earth. The gods of the underworld sent to Zeus this message: “Behold Thanatos, who went to the upper world to bring Sisyphus here, has not returned. For several days no shade1 has entered our dark kingdom.” Thereupon Zeus sent for the powerful war god, Ares, and ordered him to find the god of death. He soon found and released him from his fetters, and Sisyphus was taken to the underworld by Thanatos. Even then he continued his deceitful deeds. He said to his wife: “Do not bury my body and make the customary death offering to the gods of the underworld.” Then he appeared before Hades and Persephone and said: “My wife has not buried my body and has neglected to make the death offering. Let me go to her and remind the faithless one of her duty. Then I surely will return.”
2 His wish was granted and he returned to the upper world. As he did not come back, word was again sent to Zeus, who dispatched the swift-flying Hermes to take the deceiver back. When Sisyphus saw the divine messenger, his courage gave way, for he knew that no mortal could outdo him in cunning. Hermes took him back to the dark kingdom, where a fearful penalty awaited him. He had to roll a huge block of marble up a high mountain which no sooner reached the top than it went thundering down. He had to begin his task over again with sweat of toil and anguish dropping from his brow to the earth.
Read these sentences from Passage 1.
“. . . ‘My wife has not buried my body and has neglected to make the death offering. Let me go to her and remind the faithless one of her duty. Then I surely will return.’” (paragraph 1)
How does Sisyphus’s statement add irony to the passage?
He is shaming her for neglect even though he abandoned her.
He is asking to remind her even though he is the one who forgot.
He is calling his wife faithless even though he is the deceitful one.
He is speaking of duty even though he is avoiding his responsibility to her.
Which two universal themes are present in Passage 1?
teamwork as salvation
accountability for actions
trickery as rebellious behavior
change of fate as a result of devotion
the emptiness of attaining an immoral goal
How are the universal themes in Part A related?
They connect emotions to decisions.
They link decisions to condemnation.
They show the effects of achievement
They demonstrate a method of achievement.
Read this sentence from Passage 1. “When Sisyphus saw the divine messenger, his courage gave way, for he knew that no mortal could outdo him in cunning.” (paragraph 2) How does this description create a hopeless mood?
It shows that Sisyphus yields because he realizes his future is inescapable
It reveals that Sisyphus relents because he has already proven his strength.
It implies that Sisyphus resists because he knows the messenger is powerful.
It shows that Sisyphus surrenders because he does not have time to make a plan.
Read the excerpt from Passage 2.
“I’ve watched thee, Scarab! Yea, an hour in vain I’ve watched thee, slowly toiling up the hill,” (lines 1–2)
What does the repetition in these lines reveal?
the importance of the beetle’s work
the speaker’s fascination with the beetle
the attention that the beetle pays to its task
the relationship of the speaker to the beetle
Read these lines from Passage 2.
“This self-same height? Accurséd progeny / Of Sisyphus, what antenatal crime” (lines 11–12)
The root word “ante” means “previous.” What does antenatal crime reference in these lines?
the fault of those born over time
the error of those born before us
the offense of being born on time
the injustice of being born too soon
. Passage 2 offers an alternative interpretation of Sisyphus’s struggle from Passage 1. How does this reinterpretation affect the meaning of Passage 2?
It affirms how important the struggle is.
It reveals the difficulty of the experience.
It exposes the insignificance of the struggle.
It highlights that the experience is universal.
How does stanza 2 of Passage 3 develop a different aspect of Sisyphus’s experience than the version in Passage 1?
In Passage 3 he is continuing to fool the gods.
In Passage 3 he is steadily improving at his task.
In Passage 3 he is putting in more physical effort.
In Passage 3 he is enjoying the happiness of the gods.
What does the word oblivion mean as it is used in line 34 of Passage 3?
the state of being confused
the state of being forgotten
the shape and length of time
the position and order of loss
What idea is left unclear in the final stanza of Passage 3?
what consequence would truly punish Sisyphus
what motivates Sisyphus to continue his deception
whether Sisyphus truly suffered while doing his task
whether Sisyphus brought about his own punishment for glory
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A What is the mood in Passage 3?
peaceful
smug
vengeful
weary
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part B Which line from Passage 3 shows how the mood in Part A is developed through figurative language?
“Drip, drap, drop, the gods cackled as I sweated on that hill.” (line 18)
“Here, my lungs toil tirelessly, my limbs are lead” (line 25)
“into the familiar dips and valleys of my boulder.” (line 36)
“Finally, the kind of storied destiny I can truly embrace.” (line 38)
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A How has the character of Sisyphus in Passage 3 changed from the original work in Passage 1?
Sisyphus rests in peace.
Sisyphus ends his suffering.
Sisyphus retains his free will.
Sisyphus disrespects the gods.
This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part B Select two lines from Passage 3 that support the answer in Part A.
“I’ll admit, the first few times were agony (pure anguish).” (line 15)
“I could barely move that rock and felt my hope near-extinguish.” (line 16)
“Drip, drap, drop, the gods cackled as I sweated on that hill.” (line 18)
“Who—no, what would I be had I accepted my lot?” (line 31)
“But this quiet kind of contentment, I dare not let show.” (line 39)
