Greek Mythology
[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Overview ] [ Schedule ] [ Projects ]

updated 7-24-04

Chapter 18/Project 2
Jason and the Myths of Iolcus and Calydon
pages 475-509

Background

In each of the chapters related to the heroes, the study guide questions have followed the chronological order of the hero's life, dealing as the assignment progresses with the 4 major groups of events and the major themes one expects to find in the archetypal heroic pattern.  Each Guide has focused on a single hero, noting the most interesting aspects of his adventures, recapturing the excitement, and pointing out important ways each hero either matches the archetypal pattern or differs from it.

Goal

Your goal in Project 2 is to prepare a report telling Jason's story, recapturing its excitement, and discussing Jason as an archetypal hero, comparing and contrasting him in 5 main ways to the archetypal heroic pattern as outlined in The Heroic Pattern.  

Research

First, read Chapter 18 to learn about Jason and his exploits.

Next, follow the research guide called Hero Treasure Hunt to see what authorities have said about Jason.  This Hunt is similar to the one you used for the Deities Treasure Hunt and will help you focus on the most important aspects of Jason's story.

Finally, decide what kind of report you want to do.  

Product

You may choose to do a written report of 3-5 pages, to do a PowerPoint presentation, or to curate a library exhibit.  To learn more about curating a library exhibit, see Curating a Library Exhibit.  If you choose this option, the Library Director will work with you to choose items, create information cards, and set up the exhibit.

Grading

100 points                    wise use of the archetypal pattern in selecting points to discuss
100 points                    specific examples that illustrate the points you are making
100 points                    noting and explaining differences as well as similarities
-2 points each error    sentence sense, spelling, proofreading

Suggestions

If you are having trouble organizing your paper, try starting with these 5 clusters of ideas.  Then you can add/subtract ideas as needed to fit the main points you want to make about Jason.

1.  The hero's early life:  parentage, birth, early childhood
2.  The hero's young adulthood, including the reason for his journey or quest
3.  The journey or quest itself:

• what help the hero is able to enlist (mentors, talismans, special powers or weapons, etc.)
• the battles or conflicts the hero experiences and what they represent (struggles with conflicting duties, with sexual and other relationships, with fear, with the dark side of his own nature, with accepting mortality, etc.)
• how the hero wins (brute strength, courage, intelligence, divine or other mystical and/or magical help, etc.)
• what the hero learns about nature, human relationships, himself, his place in the cosmos, etc.

4.  The hero's return home, later exploits, and death

5.  Major motifs (you may prefer to discuss these as you cover 1-4 above)

You might like to end your report by saying how you think Jason compares to one or more of the other heroes you've studied or by talking about how well you think Jason works as a hero.