11/8/19 Steven Shi Period 7

11/8/19

Steven Shi Period 7

Aim: How self conscious are literary artists in the use or incorporation of myths?

In class, students took various Greek myths and analyzed them. Students were expected

to identify various themes and symbols, explain Gods were similar (physically, morally,

emotionally, etc.) to mortals, and connect these myths with our modern world.

Notes 

My Group’s Work:

Myth 1: Marsyas

Plot: Athena invented the flute, but threw it away because she had to disfigure her face in

order to play it. Later, a satyr named Marsyas finds it and plays it. Eventually, he overestimates

his ability, and challenges Apollo to a flute-playing contest. However, he loses, and gets flayed

by Apollo.

Themes and Symbols: The most important symbol is the flute, which represents hubris on

every level. Athena’s refusal to play the flute after she invents it is attributed to her belief that

she is better than the instrument; she deems it unworthy because it undermines her godly

stature. Marsyas’ arrogance as a result of playing the flute well leads to him challenging a

god, who ultimately punishes him for his insolence.

How it demonstrates similarity between Gods and humanity: This story reflects 2

common traits  that plague mankind: hubris and insecurity. Hubris affects all characters,

from Athena’s excessive sense of self-importance and self-love, to Marsyas’ overestimation

of his own abilities, to Apollo being blinded by his own sense of self-importance.

Furthermore, Athena’s refusal to play the flute reflects humans’ own sense of insecurity;

we as humans so are obsessed with our appearance, and the perception of others, to the

point where we are willing to sacrifice what could be interpreted as happiness.

How it connects to modern times:

From our everyday attempts to live up to expectations of beauty and success, to our

tendency to show of, the dual qualities of hubris and insecurity still prove injurious to humans

today.

Myth 2: The Hyades

Plot : The daughters of Atlas, the Hyades, nursed the god of wine, Dionysus. Beyond this

point, however, there are many versions of the story. The one discussed in the book states

that Zeus rewarded their nursing of Dionysus by turning them into stars that are part of the constellation

Taurus. Alternate stories state that after the Hyades deeply mourned for the death

of their brother, Hyas, Zeus turned them into stars. They are often referred to as the Rainers, as

they brought rain from May to November.

Themes and Symbolism:  There are themes that are reflected such as importance of

compassion and selflessness. However, the main theme is not necessarily the story itself,

but rather the role that stories like these played in Greek culture. A common theme of

Greek mythology is using stories to make sense of natural phenomena that they

didn’t entirely understand, and this is a perfect example of just that.

Similarities Between Humanity and Gods: Qualities such as compassion, sorrow, and gratefulness are seen among both mortals and gods.

Modern Context  Because we can’t possibly know everything there is to know, we often

come up with stories to at least help us explain what we think causes the unknown. The use

of the Scientific Method is a polished form of “making up stories to explain something,” but it

is significantly improved because of the ability to prove or disprove the created story and

figure out what actually happened.

Notes from class discussion

-Using the story of Arachne, Kelly explains how hubris leads to distraction, but also

explains that despite this sense of arrogance, we as humans can and should learn to forgive

and forget.

-Cornelia used the story of Leto to establish how modesty is honored more than hubris,

as well as discuss how it reinforces the common belief that we must endure.

Reflection:

Today, I was able to understand how the creators of Greek mythology connected

the Gods with mortals, be it moral, physical, or emotional. For example, stories

such as that of Leto and Marsya reinforce the theme that hubris is a detrimental

quality, and that modesty and humility are virtuous ones, while stories such as that

of Arachne reflect the importance of mercy and compassion in the face of adversity

and vengeance. These qualities ultimately bring “humanity” to the Gods, which not only

allow us to relate to them, but also use them as a means to critically analyze our own

faults. Furthermore, while working with my group members, I also was able to more

clearly understand how the themes that were prevalent in these seemingly “ancient”

stories still connect with our world today. In retrospect, just as how the Greeks’ moral

and social code were solidified in their myths, we can reflect on these same myths, and

apply many of these universal themes to our everyday lives in an effort to improve

ourselves and the world around us.