Honors 9th Literature Summer Reading Assignment 2014-2015
Edith Hamilton’s Mythology
Due on the 2nd day of class
Section 1 – Choose any 3. Answer each question in one complete, well-written paragraph.
1. What do the myths show us about the human race of long ago?
2. Could the myths be set in a different time and place and still have the same effect?
3. What were the original writers of the myths (not Hamilton) trying to show by having Zeus
fall in love with so many mortal women?
4. How did the persona of Zeus change over the course of the myths?
5. What does the behavior of Hera tell you about her?
6. What did the new belief in Dionysus show about the Greeks of the time? (Chapter 2)
7. Why were Aphrodite, Hera, and Pallas Athena willing to accept the judgment of a mortal man,
Paris? (Chapter 13)
8. What does Achilles’ treatment of Hector’s body tell you about Achilles? (Chapter 13)
Section 2- Choose any 4. Answer each question in one complete, well-written paragraph.
9. Describe Hamilton’s writing style. How does it influence your understanding of the various
myths?
10. Compare and contrast the gods (in general) of the Greek/Roman myths with those of the
Norse myths.
11. Compare and contrast one specific Greek/Roman god or goddess with the Norse counterpart.
12. Compare and contrast the Greek/Roman and the Norse creation myths.
13. Analyze the character of one of the following deities: Zeus, Hera, Artemis, Athena, Cupid,
Prometheus.
14. Analyze the character of one of the following heroes: Paris, Hercules, Theseus, Jason,
Odysseus, Sigurd.
15. Discuss the role of women in the myths.
16. If you have read another interpretation of the myths, compare and contrast it with Hamilton’s.
17. What did the Greek and Trojan responses to the kidnapping of Helen tell you about the two
societies?
18. Hamilton says that the two main characteristics of the Norsemen were heroism and common
sense. Do you agree or disagree? Cite examples from the reading to support your answer.
19. Why do you think the Greek/Roman and the Norse views of the afterlife were so different?
20. Why do you think people needed the myths?
Section 3 – Choose only 1 question to answer. Answer in one complete, well-written paragraph.
21. Which of the deities seems the most important to you? Support your answer with examples
from the text.
22. Hamilton says that Dionysus was the only god whose parents were not both divine. Why do
you think he was accepted as a god?
23. The expression “beware of Greeks bearing gifts” is sometimes used today. To which myth
does it relate? Is it an appropriate reference?
24. Do you agree with the judgment of Paris made in Chapter 13? If you were the judge, what
would you do?