|
updated 9-03-03
Chapter 2b
The Cultural Context of Classical Myth: Greek Society
pages mid 30-47
(75 points possible)
The stories people tell reflect not
only the geography of their homeland but their society and its values.
Only a small fraction of the Greeks' stories survive, but from these stories and
from their art, we can make some
generalizations about the way they lived and the way they understood the world
around them. Pages 18-28 give historical information. These pages are not assigned
because the information is covered in another course. However, to answer
some of the questions below, you'll need to review the chart on 682-3,
which summarizes the historical information. *****
1. (5) The Greeks began using bronze about 5000 BCE. What were they
using for tools before this time? 2. (5) In its prehistory, many different civilizations rose and fell in the land we
call Greece and people from other areas of Asia Minor came and went. How
might this make "Greek" myths more rich and varied? 3. (5)
The Greeks made a very important discovery in about 800 BCE. What was this
invention and why was it so important? 4. (10)
Free Greek men who
lived in cities were often separated from the company of females from the age of
12 or 13 until the age of 30. How do you think this separation might have
affected their later relationships with their wives? with their
children? with other men? 5. (10)
Like modern
drinking parties, the symposia featured suds, sex, and song--often long poems
about gods and legendary characters told by traveling story-tellers who were the
ancient version of today's rock stars and rappers. How might these poetic
songs have helped pass cultural values? How might they help account for so
many different versions of the same story? Don't get hung up on the idea
of boys as sexual prey. 6. (10)
Why is
it so hard to get a clear picture of how Greek women lived? 7.
(10)
More girl babies than boys were abandoned/exposed. How can you account for
this? 8. (10)
The Greeks invented steam engines but used them only
for toys. How does their societal structure help explain this strange
phenomenon? 9. (10)
The Greeks' religion seems very strange to
modern students. What three characteristics strike you as most odd?
10. (0) For
discussion The section on Beliefs and Customs (pages 40-mid 42) is extremely
important because it explains ideas which will appear as themes and motifs in
most of the myths we will read:
- belief in magic and the power of naming
- belief in blood guilt
- the power of taboo
- merging of divine, human, ghostly, and natural worlds/creatures
- there is no such thing as chance/all events are connected to all other
events
- the future can be known through dreams, auguries, prophets, and signs
|