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The Hero Assignments
Mythology in Classical Literature Beta
Overview
Project Objectives:
Time to get to know our heroes better. Students should examine their interesting birth stories,
explore their sometimes outrageous personal lives, make a study of their various tales of heroism,
look at their trips to the underworld, etc. I have devised a series of creative writing assignments
based on our heroes. Use the information you have learned about these heroes to create your
projects.
Due Dates:
This semester you’ll have four assignments which should be emailed to me ([email protected]) NO
LATER than 7 PM ET (the time stamp on your email shows me if you sent your work on time):
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2.
3.
4.
Perseus Project (due by March 2)
Heracles Project (due by March 9)
Jason Project (due by March 16)
Theseus Project (due March 23)
How to submit these writing pieces:
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Create your nicely formatted document on your word processing program at home.
Submit the file in one of the following file types ONLY: .docx, .pdf., or old .doc
o Do not send me links (such as to Open Office documents).
Attach your file to an email and send it to [email protected] prior to the deadline.
o Format the file name as follows:
your last name_ your first name_Heracles (or Jason, etc.)
For example: Doe_John_Heracles.docx
I will consider your work “on time” if the time-stamp on your email is before 7 pm ET on the due
date provided for each resume assignment. I will subtract 5 points from project grades for
every hour or part of an hour that the work is late (for example, I drop your score by 5 points if
it is 1 minute late, by 10 points if it is one hour and one minute late, etc.).
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The Perseus Project: a long time ago in a
galaxy far, far away. . .
Background: Many of you have read the Percy
Jackson and the Olympians books written by Rick
Riordan. If you have not read them, I recommend
them! They are fun reading and they show how
ancient myths can be adapted to almost any
context: ancient, modern…or even science fiction.
Speaking of science fiction, did you know that
more
characters of Perseus’ epic have been adapted as
names for stars and constellations? Your chapter 8 Workbook readings feature quite a bit on
this topic to get you started. Now, let’s adapt all these things and get started on your first
writing project.
Your task
I want you to write a short piece of Perseus inspired fiction! Adapt a portion of Perseus’ story into a STAR
WARS type science fiction epic that accounts for how at least
TWO of the following astronomical bodies were named:
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Cepheus
Perseus
Andromeda
Cassiopeia
Cetus
Your epic will feature the hero Perseus. Incorporate his birth
story, his mother, and EITHER Medusa OR his fight to free
Andromeda before she was devoured by Cetus. Make sure
everything in your mini-epic is set in a technologically advanced
society. Since it takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far
away it should be “etiological” (your workbook also spells this
word aetiological).
Follow this format:
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1000-1200 words
Times New Roman
1-inch margins
Double spaced
Neatly edited for good spelling, grammar, punctuation
Mythology in Classical Literature Beta at ©The Lukeion Project
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The Heracles Project: a Hero is a
mysterious thing
Nice doggie...
Background:
Heracles (Latin Hercules) enjoys the broadest range of myths, folktales,
legends, and campfire stories of any ancient Greek or Roman hero. He
has traveled everywhere from Spain to India in his perfection of areté
(heroic excellence). For this reason, expect lots of variations on his
tales because it seems that everyone wanted to play a part in his great
adventures.
In class, you will see mainly the most common versions of his
twelve labors. If we are lucky, we may even have time for one or two
tales of his pererga (extra labors). In the workbook are details on even
more stories.
Your task
This time you will need to write an epic yet funny poem about a part of
Heracles’ life. You can choose ONE from these eight options:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Baby Heracles’ epic struggle with snakes
Heracles kills his music teacher.
Heracles gathers his famous identifying objects (lion skin, club, etc.)
His fight with the Hydra
The Augean Stables
Frees Theseus from Hades
The Centaur Nessus
Heracles’ Apotheosis
Use this poem as inspiration: http://100.best-poems.net/macavity-mystery-cat.html. How should you use
your inspiration? Your poem, just like this poem, should …
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Use doublets (each two lines rhyme).
Be under 500 words long (but no shorter than 200 words).
Be descriptive about Heracles in general and one of the topics you’ve chosen above.
Be at least a little funny (maybe over dramatic at least).
Follow this format:
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200-500 words
Times New Roman
Double spaced
Neatly edited for good spelling, grammar, punctuation
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The Jason Project: drama, drama, drama
Background:
Jason’s story has all sorts of great details: interesting birth and childhood, evil kings, helpful princess,
gratuitous gore. He also has plenty of adventure on a magic talking boat. The part of the story that most
remember best is how he meets Medea and how things fall apart at the end. His heroic tale ends up
sounding like a cheesy soap opera instead of a hero’s tale!
Your task
Some of you have never seen a soap opera so I’ll clue you in:
they tend to be melodramatic, over-acted, full of passion,
anger, and drama…loads of cheesy drama. For this assignment
you will need to write a short script for a soap opera on the
topic of Jason and Medea. You can choose any part of their
story together: when they first meet, when they defeat the
guardian serpent, when they escape on Jason’t ship, when
Medea takes revenge upon Pelias driving the two into exile, or
the the famous revenge of Medea on Jason when he divorces
her.
Follow this format:
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750-1200 words
Times New Roman
Double spaced
Neatly edited for good spelling, grammar, punctuation
This should be in the format of a dialogue between Jason and Medea. Make sure that you include
details about the scene. Have the characters set the stage for this soap opera with their
descriptive, overacted, overly dramatic words.
Helpful Additional Reading
What was Medea’s view of Jason’s arrival? How did she help him accomplish his task? Read in your
Use your C. Martin translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses and read pages 223-229 for even more good
material to work with.
Mythology in Classical Literature Beta at ©The Lukeion Project
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The Theseus Project: A Modern Man
Background:
If you could come up with a modern ‘hero list,’ what type of hero reflects the values of our modern society?
Maybe Superman, Spiderman or Batman? Maybe a courageous fire fighter, soldier or police officer? Perhaps
a sports star or actor/actress? We have culture-specific ideas about heroism. Comic-book writers had to
think about those ideas when creating their fictional characters but they weren’t the first to do so!
Theseus was hand-made by Athenian authors to reflect many of the values of Athenian society. Naturally
they included the necessary swashbuckling adventures that all heroes require to achieve glory. Most people
mainly remember Theseus for dealing with lots of bull on Crete but forget that he wasn’t very nice to helpful
princesses and he tended to be forgetful about his elderly parents.
Your task
Theseus is the mythical king of Athens who goes on adventures in his spare time. He is born and brought up
in Troezen by his mother. When he reaches maturity, he sets off to Athens where his father is the reigning
king. Rather than taking the safe way and going by sea, Theseus decides to go by land to conquer a number of
monsters and villains on the way just so he can gain glory for himself. Because Theseus was a bit of a
politician in his later years, we are going to put a modern spin on his whole tale.
Your job is to reinvent a modern Theseus by creating modern villains and threats that would be appropriate
for today. Your modern epic must reflect an average flawed man combating the actual uncertainties and
villains of today. Be sure to tell your tale as though you are Theseus who happens to be running for election
to the office of supreme ruler. Remember that Theseus always defeats the threat using that threat against
it/himself. Your tale should also include at least the following:
1. One modern biological threat.
2. One modern form of terrorism.
3. One modern type of criminal
Follow this format:
 750-1200 words
 Times New Roman
 Double spaced
 Neatly edited for good spelling, grammar, punctuation
Optional Reading
Read your copy of Martin, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, pp. 241-242 (lines 618-645). How does Ovid feel about the
hero Theseus? I think he didn’t much appreciate our hero…what do you think?
Also: http://www.stoa.org/diotima/anthology/cat64.shtml (especially lines 47-250)
Read what the Roman poet Catullus thought about Theseus. In his famous Carmina 64, he writes about a
special wedding gift embroidered with the story of Theseus and Ariadne. Here Theseus is better remembered for
his cruel treatment of a very helpful princess (and his father’s untimely demise) than for any heroic
accomplishment. The Romans were clearly unimpressed with this guy.
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