Greek Mythology
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updated 9-03-03

Chapter 13: Perseus and the Myths of the Argive Plain
Pages 328-350
60 points possible

In the stories that derive from legends, the hero is often less important and interesting than the adventures themselves. In fact, the legendary hero often seems like what in literary terms is called "a flat character."

The stories of Perseus fall more nearly into the category of folk tale than into other types of heroic legends. Because folk tales usually spring from the oral traditions of the common people, the motives of its heroes seem more familiar than the motives that drive the hero of the true heroic legends. For example, in folk tales, the hero often begins his quest or journey in order to carry out an obligation to his king or a family member or as the result of some minor or accidental error in judgment or action. Also, his interactions with women are usually less threatening and disastrous than those of the legendary heroes. Finally, the folk hero and his stories are usually more romantic than those of the legendary heroes, whose tales tend to be swashbucklers.

As in all genres, however, it is often hard to tell where folk tale blends into legend. More important is for students to examine which heroic elements are present and how the author chooses to develop them. Most important, of course, is how interesting or entertaining they seem to the reader.

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Prologue

Perseus is descended from Zeus’s liaison with Io through Danaüs, whose twin was Aegyptus [notice the "quarreling twins" motif].

a. (5) Summarize the myth of the Danaids. Which Danaid did not kill her husband and why [did you notice the "all but one" motif?]?
b. (5) What happened to the other Danaids in the Underworld?

From the faithful Danaid springs the House of Argos, after which the Argive Plain is named and to which Perseus belongs. The major city in the Argive Plain is Mycenae, one of the most famous of the ancient Greek cities.

The five major elements of the heroic pattern

1. (10) the character's early life: parentage, birth, early childhood

a. Perseus’ mother is Danae. Who is his father?
b. Summarize the myth of Perseus’ conception, including the prophecy that foreshadows Perseus’
     homecoming.
c. Explain how Danae and Perseus are rescued.

2. (10) the character's young adulthood, including the reason for the journey or quest

a. Who becomes Perseus’ enemy and why? Does Perseus realize that he has made this enemy?
b. What does Perseus do that causes him to go on his journey?
c. How does this reason reinforce the idea that he may be a hero whose roots are in folk tale?

3. (10) the journey or quest itself

a.  What object is Perseus trying to obtain on his quest?
b.  What help is Perseus able to enlist? Consider mentors, talismans, special powers or weapons,    
      etc. You can use list format. Does he use each one?
c.  What battles or conflicts does Perseus experience and what, if anything, do they represent  
     (struggles with conflicting duties, with sexual and other relationships, with fear, with the dark
      side of his/her own nature, with facing Death/Hades and accepting mortality, etc.)
d.  How does Perseus win (brute strength, courage, intelligence, divine or other mystical or magical
      help)?
e.  What does Perseus learn about the forces of nature, human relationships, himself, mortality, etc.

4. (10) the return home

a.   According to some versions of the myth, Perseus does not return directly home but journeys to
    the kingdom ruled by Cepheus, where he meets his future wife. Summarize this legend by telling
     where he found her, why she was there, and why and how he released her.
b.   What happened to the sea serpent?
c.   What enemy does this make for Perseus and how does he defeat this enemy?
d.   How does he rescue his mother?
e.   Where does Medusa’s head end up?
f.   What happens when Perseus finally returns to his homeland?
g.   Does Perseus become king of his homeland?
h.   What happens to Perseus and Andromeda when they die? Do any of the other characters in 
      the Perseus story end up this way [Look at the block insert about the stars on pages 346-348]?

5.  (10) major motifs--summarize one example of each of these motifs
         a.  all but one
         b.  the quarreling twins
         c.  the girl's tragedy
         d.  the evil eye

The editor of our textbook notes that the first part of the Perseus story is really the story of Danae and follows the pattern of what is called "the girl’s tragedy." Notice that the part of the story that focuses on Andromeda also follows this "girl’s tragedy" pattern. This pattern, like both the folk and legendary heroic pattern, still appear as a staple of modern fiction.