Mythology Initiating Activities/Discussion

Last updated almost 5 years ago

4 questions

Note from the author:

This list of topics is ideal for getting students thinking critically on how classic Greek myths held such themes and how they affect contemporary culture. 

Mythology Initiating Activities/Discussion
Although many of the Greek myths have been around for over 2,000 years, the themes they address are still central to our lives today:  love, hatred, grief, jealousy, betrayal, fate, obedience, piety, death, war, friendship, happiness, and loyalty.

Directions:  Choose four (4) of the following bulleted topics and thoroughly answer each of the questions after the heading.  Do not put down simple “yes” or “no” answers.  Actually answer in a discussion.  Use your personal experiences, etc. to your advantage in your answers. 

Choose ONE topic from the list below to address in each of the following prompts (#1-#4).

• Love and Hatred:  Why does one person fall in love with another person?  What qualities will the person you fall in love with probably have?  Can you love and hate the same person?  What situations arouse hatred?

• Anger:  When is anger “unhealthy”?  At what times is anger adaptive – “good”?  What sorts of things make you angry?  How do you cope with your anger?

• Grief:  What sorts of losses arouse grief?  What loss would you grieve most?  How do people express their grief?  How do people cope with grief?

• Jealousy:  What situations arouse jealousy?  Is jealousy a necessary part of love?  Are women more jealous than men?  Do men and women get jealous about the same things?  How can you cope with your own jealousy and that of others?  When does jealousy become “unhealthy”?

• Betrayal:  How would you define betrayal?  What are some famous instances of betrayal?  How and why do some parents betray their children and vice versa?  Have you ever experienced betrayal?  How does it/did it make you feel?  What reactions does betrayal evoke?

• Power / Hunger:  Why do some people seek power while others avoid it?  Who are some people – historical and people known to you (not someone you know personally) – who seem to enjoy wielding power?  When do you feel the most powerful?  How can the desire for power lead to good things?  How can it lead to problems?

• Sacrifice:  Do you believe that the “good of the many” should always be considered first?  Do you think a political leader owes more to his or her country than to his or her children?  Can you think of people who have “sacrificed” themselves to a cause?  Would you rather risk your own life to save someone else’s?  Would you endanger the lives of your children to save others?

• Fate:  Do you believe in “fate”?  How much of your life do you have control over?  When should you accept the way things are?  When should you fight?

• Obedience:  Whom should you obey?  When should you obey and when should you question?  Is there a difference between men and women in willingness to obey?  To whom do you feel loyal?  How do you show your sense of loyalty?

• Death / War:  What do our present-day death rituals reveal about the way we view death?  How is death depicted in the media today?  Is killing ever justified?  How do wars start?  Who starts them?

• Friendship:  What qualities do you look for in a friend?  How do you show yourself to be a “good friend”?  How important is friendship to you?  What are you willing to sacrifice for friendship?

• Happiness:  How would you define happiness?  When are you happiest?  Why do some people seem generally happier than others?  What are some common situations that make people unhappy?  How important is it to be happy?

Discuss your thoughts to the choice you selected above and please name the topic you are addressing in your response. Be sure to cover every point of the question. Use the space provided to respond: