Archetype
A very typical example of a certain person or thing
Ex- wizard, antihero
Monomyth
The hero’s journey that is the common template of a brad category of tales that involve a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed
The hero’s journey summarized
Call to adventure -> meeting a mentor -> crossing threshold -> trials and failure -> growth (new skills) -> death and rebirth -> revelation -> family changes -> atonement -> gets gift -> return changed
Panhellenic
Very popular
Heroes in ancient world
Story of Perseus
How does Perseus get Medusa’s head
Athena (who is the patron god of heroes) tells Perseus to go meet “the fates” (3 women who share one eye) who know everything. The fates refuse to tell Perseus anything so he steals their eye until the Gratii tell him where the Garden of Hesperides is, which will provide him with a bag to store the head. He gets there and the women tending the garden of Hesperides give him a bag to keep Medusa’s head in. Then a bunch of gods and goddesses show up and start giving him stuff. Perseus uses a mirror on the shield to keep from being turned to stone. He cuts off her head and runs away from the gorgon. From the stump of her neck two figures show up: pegasus and chrysaor
What gift does Athena give Perseus
-A magic shield
What gift does Hermes give Perseus
-Winged sandals
What gift does Hades give Perseus
Helmet of invisibility
What gift does Zeus give Perseus
Special sword
2 stories of Medusa
What two things come out of Medusa’s neck?
- Chrysaor
On Perseus way back to give Medusa’s head to Polydectes who does he see chained to a rock? why is this person chained to a rock?
Andromeda; because her mom sacrificed her to protect their city from a sea monster brought on the city because her mom upset Poseidon. Poseidon says he will defeat the sea monster and then he marries Andromeda
Garden of Hesperides
Magical garden that has a magical tree in the center of it that bears magical golden fruit. The tree is guarded by a magical spynx
What happens when Perseus returns with Medusas head?
He puts it on the table and Polydecteus turns to stone. Perseus gives Medusa’s head to Athena and Athena attaches it to breast plate/shield and uses it as a weapon
What happens to Danae at the end of the story of Perseus
She doesnt end up marrying Polydecteus instead she marries the fisherman and they live happily ever after.
Final resolution in the Perseus story
Story of Oedipus
About a guy who ends up sleeping with his mom.
Oedipus’ parents are the king and queen of Thebes (Laus and Jocasta). Laus goes to get a prophecy from the oracle at delphi that says his kid is gonna kill him and marry his mom. Laus and Jocasta are worried because Jocasta is pregnant. Decide to leave baby in the forest thinking he might get eaten by wolves or something. Instead a king from a neighboring city comes by and finds oedipus and raises him as his own. They never tell Oedipus that he is adopted. Oedipus grows up and gets an oracle from Delphi which says hes gonna kill his dad and marry his mom. (fail to mention his REAL parents not his adopted ones that he thinks are his real parents). Oedipus leaves the kingdom to prevent this from happening. He makes his way to Thebes but on the way he gets into an argument with a guy and ends up killing him. Oedipus gets to Thebes where he finds out the king has just been killed (w2g Oedipus) and there is a horrible monster guarding the entrance to Thebes, the Spynx. People of Thebes say whoever can defeat the Spynx gets to become king. Oedipus defeats the Spynx by solving its riddle and he becomes king and marries jocasta and then they have two children. Many years pass and then Tyreseus shows up and goes oh by the way you married your mom. Oedipus pokes out his eyes and jocasta kills herself. Oedipus leaves thebes and goes into exile
Who tells Oedipus he married his mom?
Tyreseus
Spynx riddle
“A thing there is whose voice is one;
Whose feet are four and two and three.
So mutable a thing is none
that moves in earth or sky or sea.
When
on most feet this thing doth go,
Its strength is weakest and its pace most slow.”
What is Theseus an example of
Local (specifically connected to Athens) and panhelenic hero
How many labors does Theseus have?
6
How many labors does hercules have?
12
-Originally 10 but 2 were not counted so he added 2 more making 12