CHRISTIAN Z.

AGPOON 3RD YEAR BSBA- MARKETING MANAGEMENT

(GREAT BOOKS 1058) STUDY GUIDE 3

DISCUSSION PROMPT
Theogony: Lines116-122
by Hesiod (c. 700 BC)
Greece
1. What does the term "theogony" mean?
❖ The term Theogony has been understood to be the science of the origins and genealogy of the
gods and goddesses, and it is said to have been the oldest literary piece in ancient Greece.

2. In Hesiod's creation story, what is born first? What are her offspring?
❖ In this poem created by Hesiod, he started the literature by stating the firstborn which is seen to
be Chaos. Chaos was the first being who came into existence in this Theogony.
❖ Gaia was named as one of the first three offspring to have been the broad-breasted Earth. She is
the steady habitation of the divine beings who live on the pinnacle of snow-capped Olympus.
Then comes Tartarus, the underworld, and Eros, the most gorgeous of the immortal gods.

3. What is the role of Gaia (Earth)?

❖ Gaia was rightfully regarded as one of the most significant divine creatures in Classical gods. In
Greek mythology, she was indeed the goddess of the Earth and the mother god. She
immediately provides a framework for later gods, and she initiates her creative process by giving
birth to diverse gods and goddesses. And besides, Gaia was the mother of several other deities.
She essentially grants life to key immortal gods that constitute a huge aspect of life's existence,
such as Heaven. It should never be as meaningful as it is without her mate with other immortals.

4. What events occur simultaneously with the evolution of the universe?

❖ The birth of several gods and goddesses coincides with the formation of the universe. As the
universe unfolds, that is optimal for the incumbent immortal gods to generate another
descendant of their origin. It should supply justification for the momentum of life's existence by
 producing its set of new rulers. It will restore balance to the world by aligning with myriad
deities, each of whom will lend their great relevance.

5. What entity is first given birth to by Chaos?

❖ Chaos has given rise to the first entity, Gaia, who has a mother figure and is regarded as the
mother of all gods as well as the seat from whence they exist.

6. What do you think is the logic behind Eros being one of the earliest entities in the universe?
❖ Eros was the god of love in Greek mythology. He could use his magical bow and arrow to make
people fall in love with each other. Since Eros has the potential of providing love to everyone
else, it is a tremendous and necessary power to have. As the number of gods and goddesses
continues to grow, the myriad gods can bring havoc to one another for the sake of succession. To
restore balance and harmony between them, Eros can show them how to always make love
since this is the main core of creation so that there is no envy or jealousy between them.

DISCUSSION PROMPT
Prometheus Bound (excerpt)
by Aeschylus (525-456 BCE)
Greece
1. Who is Prometheus? What motivates Prometheus to revolt against Zeus?
❖ Prometheus is a Titan, the ultimate rogue, and a deity of fire in Greek mythology. Thus according
to widespread opinion, he grew into a great artisan, and in this capacity, he was associated with
fire and the creation of humankind. The apparent connotation of his name, Fore thinker,
underlined his intellectual inclination.
❖ As a consequence, Prometheus chose to make men stand upright like with the gods and to give
them fire. Prometheus cherished humanity more than just the Olympians, who'd already
banished the majority of his family to Tartarus. So, when Zeus ruled that man must sacrifice a
piece of each animal to the gods, Prometheus meant to fool Zeus.
2. What is the sin for which Prometheus is being punished by Zeus? What is his punishment for the
crime?
❖ Prometheus committed wrongdoing when he took fire from the gods and ended up giving it to
mankind.
❖ Zeus was angered by Prometheus' stealing of fire and condemned him to eternal torment by
bringing him far east, perhaps to the Caucasus. Prometheus was shackled to a stone there, and
Zeus dispatched an eagle to devour the Titan's immortal liver. Moreover, the liver regrew per
night, and thus the eagle arrived every day just to torment Prometheus endlessly.

3. Does Prometheus steal fire because he loves humans –or because he hates Zeus? Both? What is the
difference?
❖ Because of his compassion for humanity, Prometheus committed that transgression. Zeus first
established a breach with Prometheus when he banished the mortals by refusing to share his fire
because he believes it appears like mortals and gods are equal, but that cannot be because gods
are far more supreme. Furthermore, this is his method of condemning Prometheus for his
deceptive attitude. He wanted the mortals to suffer, just as Prometheus whenever he will saw
his beloved mankind having that situation.
❖ It would be a different scenario if Prometheus made that sin only for his own selfish personal
dispute with Zeus because humans would not benefit from the outcome of his deeds, whereas
mortals would. If Prometheus only wished to get revenge on Zeus, mortals might suffer as a
result of Zeus's wrath. Given his concern for his people, Prometheus bears the punishment.

4. Who will eventually free Prometheus?

❖ Prometheus' struggle from the Caucasus was halted by that of the hero Heracles.

5. “Prometheus" means "Foreseeing One." If you have a chance to ask Prometheus about the fate that
awaits you, would you ask him? Would you want to know what awaits you in the future if you could?
How would it change the way you live your life if you knew what awaited you in the future?
❖ Yes, because I wanted to know which efforts I needed to take to accomplish my dreams. I want
to comprehend each stage that I need to perform, that is why I have little or no doubt which I
will not achieve my long-term goals. This is not a shortcut; somewhat more, it is a guide that will
bring me to a better place. Once I knew what was going to happen next in my life, I would've
 been excited and motivated to work more and put in more time and effort just so I could have it
in my hands. Imagine how great things could change my life entirely once I get taught about the
upcoming chapters of my life. I have a motive to get up early, walk a great distance, and perform
well. Given that I have it at my fingertips, I can fix whatsoever I believe is disrupted on my part
and bring out the best of it. I can live in a beautiful paradise where I and my family have
everything we desire.

6. What is Prometheus Bound's overall message about power and tyranny? Is there a to be powerful
without being tyrannical?
❖ Almost all of the piece is comprised of talks with minimal action, which is consistent with the
observation that the play's protagonist, Prometheus, is shackled and motionless throughout. A
major theme recurring throughout the piece is opposition to oppression and even the
disappointment and inadequacy of rationale and truthfulness in the face of massive authority.
❖ Yes, indeed there’s no need to have tyranny just to let just and authority prevail. We are now in a
civilized and organized form of government that has been destroyed anarchism. Its been a long
battle for the people to live in a society that is always power-based just to get fame and to be
throned. We can inhabit a society without pandemonium of getting much power and
maintaining their presence in the society. Tyranny was created for the unjust to be just, and now
is the time to eradicate it and form a mere people government.

7. Why do you think Prometheus Bound has remained such a popular play?
❖ Prometheus has remained such a popular play because it symbolizes the grave abuse of
discretion of power and superiority. Even now, there are still Prometheus who are opposing the
supreme authority of the land. The hierarchical status still matters in gaining fairness and justice.
Prometheus likes will not be tired of deteriorating the face of corruption and tyranny as long as
there are people who are suffering from it. There are always like Prometheus who is willing to
go against a big ship just for the small boat to pass through from the inadequate governance.
DISCUSSION PROMPT
Narcissus and Echo
by Ovid (43 BCE-18 CE)
Rome
1. Echo claims to love Narcissus. What do you think causes Echo's love? Is it the real thing? Why or why
not?
❖ She fell in love with Narcissus and his amazing beauty the instant she saw him wandering
through the woodland. The fact that Echo falls deeply in love with Narcissus after only seeing
him for the first time is an interesting description of why she believes she is in love with that guy,
as the adage goes, love at first sight. This expression does not only apply to people; all living
beings have the right to love and be loved in return. Echo's life changed and became significant
in the blink of an eye the minute she felt love.
❖ Even though Echo is unsure about Narcissus' feelings for her, she manages her feelings for the
hunter. It is genuine love because she followed the hunter everywhere he went until she
uncovered the terrible reality that Narcissus will never form a relationship with a nymph. He
claimed he'd rather die than allow a wood nymph to have him, and as a result, Echo was
heartbroken, knowing that a man and a nymph will never be together and have their fairy tale
romance.

2. Why do you think Echo continues to love Narcissus despite being rejected? Do you feel her actions are
justified? Why or why not?
❖ Even though Echo is well aware of Narcissus's impossible devotion to a nymph, she chooses to
adore the hunter although she cannot feel love in return. Even if the person you love does not
give you the love you deserve, love moves in mysterious ways. That, I suppose, seems to be how
life works for people who feel an innermost love for someone without expecting anything in
return. It can be a silly or ignorant move to continue waiting without expecting a person to
return because there is no return, to begin with, because there is no one to wait for. It appears
to be a waste of time dealing with that problem, especially because you are already suffering,
but I feel it is justified since I'm not in a position to provide such a proposal or provide a remedy
for that situation. If we aren't feeling the same way, if we aren't feeling the same love as Echo,
then only Echo can make her point. It is not her fault that she has fallen in love with a man. Love
does not only exist between two people; it exists everywhere, and I assume Echo has learned
 the true definition of faith, which is to not demand anything in return but to simply love the
person. Love doesn't demand a bilateral agreement, a multilateral agreement, or signatories; all
that is required is literal love.

3. What does the story of Echo and Narcissus suggest about the role of love in an ancient culture? How is
our modern understanding of love similar and/or different?
❖ A third role of love in the story of Narcissus and Echo is that love is ultimately controlled by the
gods. You can’t easily love someone without the acceptance of the highness. You always need to
obey the gods and goddesses as a supreme being more than others. It showcases that love has a
barrier that can be a process of oppression that needs to be dethroned only if both of them are
eager to fight for their love. It’s a sacrifice to make just to make a person love and be loved in
return. The divine beings used to make love as a game of entertainment and test of their power
but it’s unjust to be performed. The powers of the gods are being abused to their good and will.
That’s a selfish act of ruling the creation of life.
❖ The existence of love before and now are radically different since Echo is a symbolism of those
martyrs who are begging for love in return but know that it is impossible to have it on their
hands in the first place. Learned how to submit if you already know you're in too much agony
because it's a stupid and uneducated act. Wish you could go back in time and do the same thing,
but not wish you could do it now cause love has a different connotation now, and people's
perspectives have shifted, and only those who are dreaming can't get tired of insisting and
hoping. Before you can love others, you must first learn to love yourself. Always leave something
on your portion so that you can rebuild it afterward. Don't give your best to someone who
doesn't deserve your admiration.

4 Have you ever felt the same way that Echo does? Or the same way that Narcissus does? If so, how did
you act? How would you act if you could go back and do it again?
❖ For the record, I never felt loved in return, as Echo didn't experience also, but I'm sure we don't
represent the same denominator if being a martyr is the topic being debated. I'm an educated
person, and love can't disavow me, and I'll never let that happen. Even if love is a powerful
feeling that may devastate someone, I have more than enough intelligence to always choose the
best and not the worst, even if the same thing happens over and over again.