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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. These two sisters had __________ nieces.

2. Zeus snatched Callisto to safety and put her in the stars, where she became the __________________ constellation.

3. Aeneas stayed with her for a time, but eventually ___________ sent a message telling him to remember his great destiny and to sail for Italy.

4. Orithyia's two sons were heroes who accompanied ____________ on his voyage.

5. Proper _____________ was also considered very important in order to appease the spirits of the dead.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are two important lessons taught in the Odyssey?

2. Summarize two stories found in this section. How do they explain the qualities of a hero?

3. How does the story of Procne, Philomela, and Tereus explain the origins of species?

4. How are the lessons learned from these stories relevant today?

5. How are some of the stars explained in this section?

6. What is the moral message of this family's stories?

7. How did the bad luck of the later generations reflect the bad luck of the earlier generations? What does this say about the tie between one generation and another?

8. Who are two members of this family who did not deserve the bad luck they received? Why?

9. Compare one of these stories to a fairly tale or tall tale with which you are familiar.

10. What story explains the creation of spiders? How does this explain the creation of spiders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mythology has been an important part of human cultures around the world.

Part 1) Support this statement with information from this text, as well as information you have learned from other sources. Why is mythology so important to humans? What does it provide mankind?

Part 2) Why have certain mythologies, such as Greek mythology, been so important for other cultures besides their own? How has Greek mythology and Greek culture influenced other areas of the world? How are the cultures of others seen in the way people live in the United States, and even in the way our country operates?

Part 3) Does modern mythology exist? If so, what is it? If not, why not? What information and beliefs from today will be passed on to future generations? How might our beliefs and ideas influence those living in the future? Use the text to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

Dionysus and Demeter had two of the most important cults.

Part 1) Describe each of these gods and their roles in Greek mythology. How did they help man explain the ways in which the world works? How did this make these two gods so important?

Part 2) Why did these gods suffer more in their mythology than other gods? What does this reveal about the Greeks and their beliefs about man and the gods? How is this suffering both good and bad?

Part 3) Do the world's major religions today have gods that suffer? If so, explain this suffering. If not, why not? What does this suffering, or lack thereof, reveal about these religious believers?

Essay Topic 3

The author states that Greek mythology should not be seen as a Bible of religious belief.

Part 1) What is meant by this statement? How should Greek mythology be viewed? Why should it not be understood as a Bible of religious belief? How might this affect one's belief in the Greek gods? How does this affect the power of these gods?

Part 2) How did this give freedom to various Greek writers and thinkers throughout history? How did these writers and thinkers influence Greek mythology? Why did they influence it in this way?

Part 3) Would a religion such as what is known as Greek mythology flourish today? Why or why not? What is necessary for a religion to be successful today? How does this reflect mankind today? What does it also reveal about the ancient Greeks?

(see the answer keys)

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