GE 121 | Great Books: Understanding Literary Masterpieces

GE 121 | Great Books
PREFACE
Great Books is designed to introduce literature to students and foster appreciation, if

not love, for it. The chapters of this course feature selections from authors whose
masterful craft have endured the test of time and reserve the right to be universally
studied and shared. We are talking from the ancient Sophocles, Homer to the classic
Shakespeare, Frost, Wordsworth to the contemporary Keret, Tiempo. Although their
heydays come from different timelines, one thing is clear: their works share a kind of
universality worthy of timeless recognition and praise.
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LITERATURE: OVERVIEW
TARGET COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

CLO1: demonstrate understanding of literature and of the different literary
masterpieces around the world;
CLO2: show proficiency in giving interpretations of literary texts;
CLO3: analyze the importance of literature in its relation to its socio-cultural context
and to its ‗universal‘ appeal;
CLO4: create new perspectives through reflections of the ―universality‖ of literary
texts; and
CLO5: develop literary appreciation
LESSON 1: What is Literature?
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, students are expected to attain the following:
a. explain literature and two of its genres;
b. determine the importance of literature; and
c. reflect on the impact of literature in our lives.
What is literature?
Literature, etymologically from the Latin word ―littera‖ which defines as ―a letter from
the alphabet,‖ can be defined as anything written. Your Physics textbook, for
example, is something you can expect as straightforwardly clear, something that
provides you information. But you don‘t really expect it to spark interest per se. Let‘s
face it, you don‘t read the Physics textbook for the sake of the joy of reading, but
because you want to learn about that specific science and that‘s just about it.
There is a certain kind of literature that people read without anticipating a practical
payoff. So much so that it‘s not because it‘s something that‘s simply good for them,
like how people play sports. Sure, say, badminton can help keep us healthy, but
that‘s not why people play. People play badminton because it grants them a certain
kind of pleasure. We attend concerts not because there is a reward waiting for us but

because the experience in itself is rewarding. Perhaps what keeps us hooked in the
readerly experience is because it allows us to appreciate brilliance and admire
achievement, but most of all, separate us out of reality for a while. Although most of
us can swing a badminton racquet or maintain a melody, it hits different when we go
to a badminton tourney or watch a musical. Why? Because it lets us witness a higher
level of performance that evokes our admiration.
Generally, literature is historically and culturally specific, which is why there are
different collective nomenclatures for literature according to place and even time. A
few examples of this are: African Literature, Greco-Roman Literature, Southeast
Asian Literature, and many more.
Importance of Literature
Here‘s an article from The Odyssey (https://bit.ly/2VODpgj) that best explains the
importance of literature:
1. Expanding horizons
First and foremost, literature opens our eyes and makes us see more than just what
the front door shows. It helps us realize the wide world outside, surrounding us. With
this, we begin to learn, ask questions, and build our intuitions and instincts. We
expand our minds.
2. Building critical thinking skills

Many of us learn what critical thinking is in our language arts classes. When we read,
we learn to look between the lines. We are taught to find symbols, make connections,
find themes, learn about characters. Reading expands these skills, and we begin to
look at a sentence with a larger sense of detail and depth and realize the importance
of hidden meanings so that we may come to a conclusion.
3. A leap into the past

History and literature are entwined with each other. History is not just about power
struggles, wars, names, and dates. It is about people who are products of their time,
with their own lives. Today the world is nothing like it was in the 15th century; people
have changed largely. Without literature, we would not know about our past, our
families, the people who came before and walked on the same ground as us.
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4. Appreciation for other cultures and beliefs

Reading about history, anthropology, or religious studies provides a method of
learning about cultures and beliefs other than our own. It allows you to understand
and experience these other systems of living and other worlds. We get a view of the
inside looking out, a personal view and insight into the minds and reasoning of
someone else. We can learn, understand, and appreciate it.
5. Better writing skills

When you open a book, when your eyes read the words and you take in its contents,
do you ask yourself: How did this person imagine and write this? Well, many of those
authors, poets, or playwrights used literature to expand their writing.
6. Addressing humanity
All literature, whether it be poems, essays, novels, or short stories, helps us address
human nature and conditions which affect all people. These may be the need for
growth, doubts, and fears of success and failure, the need for friends and family, the
goodness of compassion and empathy, trust, or the realization of imperfection. We
learn that imperfection is not always bad and that normal can be boring. We learn
that life must be lived to the fullest. We need literature in order to connect with our
own humanity.
Different Genres of Literature
For this course, we‘ll be focused on two famous genres of literature:
Fiction. This is a genre in literature that is typically based on imagination, but could
also be based on real-life events. Types of literature in the fiction genre include but
not limited to the following:
Short Story. Sometimes called Flash Fiction, it refers to works of fiction that
are shorter and less elaborate than a novel, typically read in one sitting.
Examples of a short story are Fogtown by Timothy Montes and Midsummer
by Manuel Arguilla.
Novel. It refers to works of fiction that have considerable length and

complexity. Novels are published as books. Examples of a novel are The

Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and Remains of the Day by Kazuo
Ishiguro.
Novella. It refers to works of fiction that are relatively longer than short stories
but shorter than novels. Examples of a novella are The Metamorphosis by
Franz Kafka and The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy.
Poetry. a type of literature that conveys a thought, describes a scene or tells a story
in a concentrated, lyrical arrangement of words. Types of literature in the poetry
genre include but not limited to the following:
Sonnet. A type of poem that is only one stanza and fourteen lines. Examples
of sonnets are Amoretti LXXV: One Day I Wrote Her Name by Edmund
Spenser and Remember by Christina Rossetti.
Ballad. A type of poem that tells stories most often based on a legend or a
folk tale. Examples of ballads are Annabel Lee by Edgar Allan Poe and La
Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats.
Elegy. A type of poem that reflects upon death or loss. Examples of elegies
are The Lost Sister: An Elegy by Joyce Carol Oates and Elegy Written on a
Country Church by Thomas Gray.
Epic. A type of poem that is long and narrative and normally tells a story of a
hero or an adventure. Examples of epics are Beowulf and Biag ni Lam-ang.
Ode. A type of poem that addresses and often praises a certain person, thing,
or event. Examples of odes are Ode of Solitude by Alexander Pope and Ode
to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Free Verse. A type of poem that has no regular meter nor rhyme scheme and
usually follows the natural rhythms of speech. Examples of free verses are
Song of Myself by Walt Whitman and This Is Just To Say by William Carlos
Williams.
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ASSESSMENT
Directions: Read the statements below. Write TRUE if the statement is correct and
write FALSE if it is not. Write your answer after the statement.
___1. Literature helps us see the outside world thus it makes us wonder of the things
around us.
___2. Reading a good literature helps us become critical thinkers.
___3. Literature deals with what is happening in the present and do away with what
happened in the past.
___4. Through literature, we see cultures, beliefs, traditions other than our own.
___5. Literature makes us aware of our own identity.
___6. All literary text points to human nature.
___7. Literature makes us aware of our human weakness as well as our strength.
___8. Reading literature limits our perspectives as individuals.
___9. Literature serves as link to our past and guide to our future.
___10. Literature is best enjoyed if read in the classroom.

LESSON 2: Elements of Fiction
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, you are expected to attain the following:
a. discriminate the different elements of fiction
b. identify details that correspond to the right element
Elements of Fiction
To be a fiction story, these following elements should always be present:
Plot. This refers to the order of events in a story. Even the plot has its own elements
called Freytag‘s Pyramid coined by German playwright Gustav Freytag.
Figure 1: Freytag’s Pyramid
Exposition is an introduction to the characters, time, and the problem. At the

point where exposition moves into rising action a problem, sometimes called
an inciting incident, occurs for the main character to handle or solve. This
creates the beginning of the story.
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Rising Action includes the events that the main character encounters. Each
event, developed in separate scenes, makes the problem more complex.
Climax is the turning point in the story. Usually, it is a single event with the
greatest intensity and uncertainty. The main character must contend with the
problem at this point.
Falling Action includes the events that unfold after the climax. This usually
creates an emotional response from the reader.
Denouement provides closure to the story. It ties up loose ends in the story.
Characters. This refers to the people, animals, or aliens in the story. Basically, they
are the representations of beings. Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief, Christian
Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, and Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games are a few
examples of characters.
Setting. This refers to when and where the story takes place. Details like time of the
year, time of the day, the weather, the historical period, geographical locations like
the cities, provinces, towns, countries, etc. are all under this element.
Theme. This refers to the underlying truth that is being conveyed in the story.
Themes can be universal, meaning they are understood by readers no matter what
culture or country the readers are in. Common themes include coming of age, circle
of life, prejudice, greed, good vs. evil, beating the odds, etc.
Point of View. This refers to how the story is told. It generally has two points of view:
First-person. This means that one of the characters in the story will narrate–
give an account–of the story. The narrator may be the protagonist, the main
character. Writing in first-person point of view brings the readers closer to the
story. They can read it as if they are the character because personal
pronouns like I, me, my, we, us, and our are used.

Third-person. This means that the narrator is not in the story. The third-
person narrator is not a character. Writing in third-person point of view
removes readers from the story because of the pronouns he, she, it, him, her,
his, hers, they, them, and theirs.
Conflict. the struggle between two entities. In story writing the main character, also
known as the protagonist, encounters a conflict with the antagonist, which is an
adversary.
[SOURCE: https://bit.ly/3yJryiu]
ASSESSMENT
Directions: Read the following items carefully and answer which elements of fiction
best displays the information below. Write CO for conflict, PL for plot, SE for setting,
CH for character, and TH for theme on the space provided.
_______1. Catherine found out that her wife, Anastasia, was with another woman
during her business trip in Cancun, Mexico.
_______2. It was on a rainy Wednesday in Dumaguete.
_______3. His name is Vanya Hargreeves, the youngest of five siblings.
_______4. After putting to an end of Setrakus Ra‘s reign, John Smith was able to
save Earth, his home planet.
_______5. They were born in a time when the French Revolution was at its slow
decline.
_______6. The most interesting among Miss Peregrine‘s children is Enoch O‘Connor
whose peculiarity is the ability to temporarily bring life into corpses and inanimate
objects.
_______7. The struggles of gay marriage in a heteronormative patriarchal society.
_______8. Everyone in the room started to flee when suddenly the DJ started to turn
into a zombie.
_______9. When all the other seagulls were catching fish, Jonathan Livingstone
Seagull soared high through the sky, for nothing brought him more pleasure than
flying.
_______10. The great sacrifice of motherhood.
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LESSON 3: Elements of Poetry
LESSON OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to attain the following:
a. discriminate the different elements of poetry; and
b. identify the rhyme scheme of a poem.
Elements of Poetry
Like fiction, poetry also has its own elements:
Rhythm. This is the music made by the statements of the poem, which includes the
syllables in the lines. The best method of understanding this is to read the poem
aloud, and understand the stressed and unstressed syllables.
Meter. This is the basic structural make-up of the poem. Do the syllables match with
each other? Every line in the poem must adhere to this structure. A poem is made up
of blocks of lines, which convey a single strand of thought. Within those blocks, a
structure of syllables which follow the rhythm has to be included. This is the meter or
the metrical form of poetry.
Rhyme Scheme. As a continuation of rhyme, the rhyme scheme is also one of the
basic elements of poetry. In simple words, it is defined as the pattern of rhyme. Either
the last words of the first and second lines rhyme with each other, or the first and the
third, second and the fourth and so on.
Rhyme scheme is denoted using the first letters of the alphabet for similar-sounding
words at the end of the line. For example:
Drink to me only with thine eyes, A

And I will pledge with mine; B
Or leave a kiss but in the cup, C
And I‘ll not look for wine. B
The thirst that from the soul doth rise A
Doth ask a drink divine; B
But might I of Jove‘s nectar sup, C
I would not change for thine. B

Notice how there are several Bs in the stanza. This is because ―mine,‖ ―wine,‖
―divine,‖ and ―thine‖ all rhyme together, so they will be assigned a single letter. ―Eyes‖
and ―rise‖ are labeled with A because they both have the same rhyme also. Same
goes with ―cup‖ and ―sup‖ labeled with C.
Theme. This is what the poem is all about. The theme of the poem is the central idea
that the poet wants to convey. It can be a story, or a thought, or a description of
something or someone; anything that the poem is about.
Symbolism. Often poems will convey ideas and thoughts using symbols. A symbol
can stand for many things at one time and leads the reader out of a systematic and
structured method of looking at things. Often a symbol used in the poem will be used
to create such an effect.
Imagery. Imagery is also one of the important elements of a poem. This device is
used by the poet for readers to create an image in their imagination. Imagery appeals
to all the five senses. For e.g., when the poet describes, the flower is bright red, an
image of a red flower is immediately created in the readers‘ mind.
[SOURCE: https://bit.ly/3ADsg0X and https://bit.ly/2VHI0S6]
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ASSESSMENT
Directions: Write T if the statement is TRUE and write F if the statement is false
before the number. ;
[ ] 1. A detail that appeals to the senses falls under the element of Symbolism.
[ ] 2. If the ends of the respective two lines are ―create‖ and ―hate,‖ that means
their rhyme scheme will have different letters.
[ ] 3. When dealing with syllables, Meter is the element responsible.
[ ] 4. In some ways, poetry and music are similar.
[ ] 5. Death and sadness could be categorized as themes of a poem.
Directions: Identify the rhyme scheme of the stanza using the letters as shown in the
lesson.
1. It was many and many a year ago,

In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
2. In what distant deeps or skies.

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?
3. The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

WESTERN LITERATURE
CHAPTER 1: Greco-Roman Literature
TARGET COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

CLO1: demonstrate understanding of literature and of the different literary
masterpieces around the world;
CLO2: show proficiency in giving interpretations of literary texts; and
CLO3: analyze the importance of literature in its relation to its socio-cultural context
and to its ‗universal‘ appeal;
CLO4: create new perspectives through reflections of the ‗universality‘ of the literary
texts; and
CLO5: develop literary appreciation
LESSON 1: Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
LESSON OUTCOMES
a. pinpoint the details of the story; and
b. relate the concept of prophecy in real life
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
One of the three great writers of tragedies in ancient Greece, Sophocles (496?– 406
BCE) was born in Colonus, near Athens, into a well-to-do family. Well educated, he
first won public acclaim as a tragic poet at the age of 27, in 468 BCE when he
defeated Aeschylus in a competition for writing a tragic play. He is said to have
written some 120 plays, but only seven tragedies are extant: among them are
Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus. He died, much honored, in his
ninetieth year, in Athens, where he had lived his entire life.
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Oedipus Rex: Summary

Sophocles
Sophocles‘s Oedipus Rex begins as a Priest of Apollo asks King Oedipus of Thebes
to help end the plague that is ravaging the city. In response, Oedipus reveals that he
has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to consult with the oracle of Apollo at
Delphi on the matter. Creon returns with the message that in order for the plague to
end, the murderer of Laius, the previous king of Thebes, must be brought to justice.
According to the oracle, the murderer still resides within the city. Oedipus, who
arrived in Thebes after Laius‘s death, asks Creon for the details of the murder. Creon
explains that Laius was killed by thieves while on his way to consult an oracle.
Oedipus vows to exact revenge against the murderer and end the plague.
In order to find the murderer, Oedipus summons the blind prophet Teiresias. When
Oedipus asks about the identity of the murderer, Teiresias is cryptic at first. He
laments that there is little point in knowing the truth when the truth will bring nothing
but misery. However, when Oedipus insults Teiresias and accuses him of the
murder, Teiresias angrily reveals that Oedipus himself killed Laius. Oedipus assumes
that Teiresias is working on behalf of Creon to dethrone him, and he angrily rebukes
the prophet. He accuses Teiresias of being talentless and boasts that he was the one
who saved Thebes. When Oedipus arrived, Thebes was held captive by a sphinx. In
order to make her leave, Oedipus solved her riddle. After successfully freeing the
city, Oedipus was made king. Teiresias angrily rebukes Oedipus for not trusting in his
skills as a prophet, and he enigmatically reveals that Oedipus‘s parents trusted his
talents. As Teiresias departs, he delivers one final prophecy: Oedipus is both the
father and brother of his children, implying that he has married his mother.
After Teiresias leaves, Oedipus angrily confronts Creon, whom he believes is

conspiring against him. He tells Creon to either leave Thebes or die. Their argument
is interrupted by the arrival of Jocasta, Oedipus‘s wife and Creon‘s sister. She scolds
them for arguing when there are more important matters to attend to. Creon departs,
leaving Jocasta and Oedipus to discuss the conflict. Jocasta chides Oedipus for
baselessly accusing Creon of treason and advises him to distrust prophecies. As
evidence, she cites Teiresias‘s prophecy that her former husband, King Laius, would
be killed by his own son. In response, Jocasta and Laius sent their child away to die
on a mountain. Laius was later killed by thieves on his way to visit a prophet.

Jocasta‘s recounting of Laius‘s murder startles Oedipus. He recalls his journey to
Thebes, in which he participated in an incident similar to the murder Jocasta
describes. He begins to fear that he truly is the man who murdered Laius. He tells
Jocasta to send for the only survivor from Laius‘s traveling party. When Jocasta
questions Oedipus further, he explains the circumstances that brought him to
Thebes. Oedipus was raised in Corinth by King Polybus and Queen Merope. One
day, he overheard someone say that Oedipus was not truly their son. To obtain
answers, Oedipus visited the oracle of Delphi, who did not confirm his parentage but
instead foretold that Oedipus would murder his father and marry his mother. In order
to circumvent the prophecy, Oedipus fled Corinth. On his way to Thebes, in the same
location where Laius was murdered, he encountered a traveling party who
threatened to run him off the road. In retaliation, Oedipus killed them all, save for one
survivor, who got away. Oedipus is troubled by the connections between Laius‘s
murder and his own actions. Jocasta urges him to avoid assumptions until he has
had the chance to the talk to the survivor.
Soon after, a messenger arrives from Corinth to inform Oedipus that King Polybus is
dead. Oedipus and Jocasta take this news as further proof that prophecies are
inaccurate, because Oedipus was prophesied to be his father‘s murderer. However,
the messenger then reveals that Polybus was not Oedipus‘s real father. Instead, the
messenger, who was previously a shepherd, received the baby Oedipus from one of
Laius‘s herdsman. Oedipus asks Jocasta if she could identify the herdsman, but she
begs Oedipus not to pursue this line of inquiry. Assuming that Jocasta is simply
embarrassed to be married to someone of unroyal ancestry, Oedipus continues his
inquiry and calls for the herdsman to be brought before him. Jocasta then departs,
promising to be ―silent evermore.‖
The herdsman then arrives and confirms that he gave the infant Oedipus to the
messenger. However, upon being questioned about the infant‘s origins, he remains
stubbornly silent. When Oedipus threatens to have him killed, the herdsman
reluctantly admits that the infant was Laius and Jocasta‘s son. Laius and Jocasta told
the herdsman to kill the child, who was prophesied to murder his father and marry his
mother. However, the herdsman took pity on the infant Oedipus and instead gave
him to the messenger, believing that the child could do no harm if he was raised in
another city.
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Oedipus, realizing that he has indeed murdered his father and married his mother,
runs offstage in grief. A second messenger then enters the stage and reports on
what has happened inside the palace. Jocasta, no longer able to deny the truth,
hanged herself. Oedipus, upon finding her dead, used the pins of her dress to blind
himself. An inconsolable Oedipus then re-enters the stage and bemoans the tragedy
of his life. When Creon arrives, Oedipus asks to be exiled for his sins. He also asks
Creon to look after his young daughters, Antigone and Ismene. As Oedipus is led
away, the Chorus laments his fate. Oedipus‘s story continues in Sophocles‘s
Oedipus at Colonus.
[SOURCE: https://bit.ly/3CDe2iB]

ASSESSMENT
Directions: Have fun answering the following question.
1. What did Oedipus need to do to end the plague?
A. Avenge the murder of Laius
B. Seek advice from the oracle of Apollo on how to stop it
C. Work with his brother Creon and travel to Delphi
D. Ask justice from the Greek gods
2. What was the prophecy that Teiresias revealed after Oedipus defeated the
Sphinx?
A. It was Oedipus who killed Laius
B. Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother
C. Oedipus would be the father and brother of his children
D. Oedipus would soon save Thebes
3. For what reason did Oedipus travel to Corinth?
A. Jocasta kept questioning Oedipus on the murder of his ex-husband
B. Oedipus planned on killing a traveling party on the same location Laius
was killed
C. To visit King Polybus and Queen Merope
D. Oedipus wished to circumvent the prophecy
4. Who confirmed the prophecy to be true?
A. Jocasta
B. Herdsman
C. Messenger
D. Laius
5. What did Oedipus do to himself after finding out the fulfillment of the
prophecy?
A. He went after Jocasta for wanting him killed as a child
B. He lamented his fate
C. He asked his brother-in-law Creon to put him in exile for his sins
D. He used the pins of Jocasta‘s dress to blind his eyes
Directions: Answer briefly the question.

Oedipus denied a prophecy of him until it turned out true. Do you believe in
fate, that we our future is already predestined? Explain why or why not.
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LESSON 2: The Iliad: Book 22 by Homer
LESSON OUTCOMES:
a. compare and contrast the traits of both characters;
b. evaluate the actions of the characters; and
c. reflect on the concept of hubris in real life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Homer (c. 750 BCE) is perhaps the greatest of all epic poets and his legendary
status was well established by the time of Classical Athens. He composed (not wrote,
since the poems were created and transmitted orally, they were not written down until
much later) two major works, the Iliad and the Odyssey; other works were attributed
to Homer, but even in antiquity their authorship was disputed. In conjunction with
Hesiod, Homer acts as a great pool of information for the Greeks about their gods.
Homer is the earliest poet in Western culture whose works have survived intact.
The Iliad: Book 22

Homer
Thus did he stand and ponder, but Achilles came up to him as it were Mars himself,
plumed lord of battle. From his right shoulder he brandished his terrible spear of
Pelian ash, and the bronze gleamed around him like flashing fire or the rays of the
rising sun. Fear fell upon Hector as he beheld him, and he dared not stay longer
where he was but fled in dismay from before the gates, while Achilles darted after
him at his utmost speed. As a mountain falcon, swiftest of all birds, swoops down
upon some cowering dove—the dove flies before him but the falcon with a shrill
scream follows close after, resolved to have her—even so did Achilles make straight
for Hector with all his might, while—Hector fled under the Trojan wall as fast as his
limbs could take him.
On they flew along the wagon-road that ran hard by under the wall, past the lookout
station, and past the weather-beaten wild fig-tree, till they came to two fair springs
which feed the river Scamander. One of these two springs is warm, and steam rises
from it as smoke from a burning fire, but the other even in summer is as cold as hail

or snow, or the ice that forms on water. Here, hard by the springs, are the goodly
washing-troughs of stone, where in the time of peace before the coming of the
Achaeans the wives and fair daughters of the Trojans used to wash their clothes.
Past these did they fly, the one in front and the other giving chase behind him: good
was the man that fled, but better far was he that followed after, and swiftly indeed did
they run, for the prize was no mere beast for sacrifice or bullock‘s hide, as it might be
for a common foot-race, but they ran for the life of Hector. As horses in a chariot race
speed round the turning-posts when they are running for some great prize—a tripod
or woman—at the games in honor of some dead hero, so did these two run full speed
three times round the city of Priam. All the gods watched them, and the sire of gods
and men was the first to speak.
―Alas,‖ said he, ―my eyes behold a man who is dear to me being pursued round the
walls of Troy; my heart is full of pity for Hector, who has burned the thigh-bones of
many a heifer in my honor, one while on the crests of many-valleyed Ida, and again
on the citadel of Troy; and now I see noble Achilles in full pursuit of him round the city
of Priam. What say you? Consider among yourselves and decide whether we shall
now save him or let him fall, valiant though he be, before Achilles, son of Peleus.‖
Then Minerva said, ―Father, wielder of the lightning, lord of cloud and storm, what
mean you? Would you pluck this mortal whose doom has long been decreed out of
the jaws of death? Do as you will, but we others shall not be of a mind with you.‖
And Jove answered, ―My child, Trito-born, take heart. I did not speak in full earnest,
and I will let you have your way. Do without let or hindrance as you are minded.‖
Thus did he urge Minerva who was already eager, and down she darted from the
topmost summits of Olympus.
Achilles was still in full pursuit of Hector, as a hound chasing a fawn which he has
started from its covert on the mountains, and hunts through glade and thicket. The
fawn may try to elude him by crouching under cover of a bush, but he will scent her
out and follow her up until he gets her—even so there was no escape for Hector from
the fleet son of Peleus. Whenever he made a set to get near the Dardanian gates
and under the walls, that his people might help him by showering down weapons
from above, Achilles would gain on him and head him back towards the plain,
keeping himself always on the city side. As a man in a dream who fails to lay hands
upon another whom he is pursuing—the one cannot escape nor the other overtake—
19 | P a g e
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even so neither could Achilles come up with Hector, nor Hector break away from
Achilles; nevertheless he might even yet have escaped death had not the time come
when Apollo, who thus far had sustained his strength and nerved his running, was
now no longer to stay by him. Achilles made signs to the Achaean host, and shook
his head to show that no man was to aim a dart at Hector, lest another might win the
glory of having hit him and he might himself come in second. Then, at last, as they
were nearing the fountains for the fourth time, the father of all balanced his golden
scales and placed a doom in each of them, one for Achilles and the other for Hector.
As he held the scales by the middle, the doom of Hector fell down deep into the
house of Hades—and then Phoebus Apollo left him. Thereon Minerva went close up
to the son of Peleus and said, ―Noble Achilles, favored of heaven, we two shall surely
take back to the ships a triumph for the Achaeans by slaying Hector, for all his lust of
battle. Do what Apollo may as he lies groveling before his father, aegis-bearing Jove,
Hector cannot escape us longer. Stay here and take breath, while I go up to him and
persuade him to make a stand and fight you.‖
Thus spoke Minerva. Achilles obeyed her gladly, and stood still, leaning on his
bronze-pointed ashen spear, while Minerva left him and went after Hector in the form
and with the voice of Deiphobus. She came close up to him and said, ―Dear brother, I
see you are hard pressed by Achilles who is chasing you at full speed round the city
of Priam, let us await his onset and stand on our defense.‖
And Hector answered, ―Deiphobus, you have always been dearest to me of all my
brothers, children of Hecuba and Priam, but henceforth I shall rate you yet more
highly, inasmuch as you have ventured outside the wall for my sake when all the
others remain inside.‖ Then Minerva said, ―Dear brother, my father and mother went
down on their knees and implored me, as did all my comrades, to remain inside, so
great a fear has fallen upon them all; but I was in an agony of grief when I beheld
you; now, therefore, let us two make a stand and fight, and let there be no keeping
our spears in reserve, that we may learn whether Achilles shall kill us and bear off
our spoils to the ships, or whether he shall fall before you.‖
Thus did Minerva inveigle him by her cunning, and when the two were now close to
one another great Hector was first to speak. ―I will no longer fly you, son of Peleus,‖
said he, ―as I have been doing hitherto. Three times have I fled round the mighty city
of Priam, without daring to withstand you, but now, let me either slay or be slain, for I
am in the mind to face you. Let us, then, give pledges to one another by our gods,

who are the fittest witnesses and guardians of all covenants; let it be agreed between
us that if Jove vouchsafes me the longer stay and I take your life, I am not to treat
your dead body in any unseemly fashion, but when I have stripped you of your armor,
I am to give up your body to the Achaeans. And do you likewise.‖
Achilles glared at him and answered, ―Fool, prate not to me about covenants. There
can be no covenants between men and lions, wolves and lambs can never be of one
mind, but hate each other out and out and through. Therefore there can be no
understanding between you and me, nor may there be any covenants between us, till
one or other shall fall and glut grim Mars with his life‘s blood. Put forth all your
strength; you have need now to prove yourself indeed a bold soldier and man of war.
You have no more chance, and Pallas Minerva will forthwith vanquish you by my
spear: you shall now pay me in full for the grief you have caused me on account of
my comrades whom you have killed in battle.‖ He poised his spear as he spoke and
hurled it. Hector saw it coming and avoided it; he watched it and crouched down so
that it flew over his head and stuck in the ground beyond; Minerva then snatched it
up and gave it back to Achilles without Hector seeing her; Hector thereon said to the
son of Peleus, ―You have missed your aim, Achilles, peer of the gods, and Jove has
not yet revealed to you the hour of my doom, though you made sure that he had
done so. You were a false-tongued liar when you deemed that I should forget my
valor and quail before you. You shall not drive spear into the back of a runaway—
drive it, should heaven so grant you power, drive it into me as I make straight
towards you; and now for your own part avoid my spear if you can—would that you
might receive the whole of it into your body; if you were once dead the Trojans would
find the war an easier matter, for it is you who have harmed them most.‖
He poised his spear as he spoke and hurled it. His aim was true for he hit the middle
of Achilles‘ shield, but the spear rebounded from it, and did not pierce it. Hector was
angry when he saw that the weapon had sped from his hand in vain, and stood there
in dismay for he had no second spear. With a loud cry he called Deiphobus and
asked him for one, but there was no man; then he saw the truth and said to himself,
―Alas! The gods have lured me on to my destruction. I deemed that the hero
Deiphobus was by my side, but he is within the wall, and Minerva has inveigled me;
death is now indeed exceedingly near at hand and there is no way out of it—for so
Jove and his son Apollo the far-darter have willed it, though heretofore they have
been ever ready to protect me. My doom has come upon me; let me not then die
21 | P a g e
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ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do some great thing that shall be
told among men hereafter.‖
As he spoke he drew the keen blade that hung so great and strong by his side, and
gathering himself together he sprang on Achilles like a soaring eagle which swoops
down from the clouds on to some lamb or timid hare—even so did Hector brandish
his sword and spring upon Achilles. Achilles mad with rage darted towards him, with
his wondrous shield before his breast, and his gleaming helmet, made with four
layers of metal, nodding fiercely forward. The thick tresses of gold with which Vulcan
had crested the helmet floated round it, and as the evening star that shines brighter
than all others through the stillness of night, even such was the gleam of the spear
which Achilles poised in his right hand, fraught with the death of noble Hector. He
eyed his fair flesh over and over to see where he could best wound it, but all was
protected by the goodly armor of which Hector had spoiled Patroclus after he had
slain him, save only the throat where the collarbones divide the neck from the
shoulders, and this is a most deadly place: here then did Achilles strike him as he
was coming on towards him, and the point of his spear went right through the fleshy
part of the neck, but it did not sever his windpipe so that he could still speak. Hector
fell headlong, and Achilles vaunted over him saying, ―Hector, you deemed that you
should come off scatheless when you were spoiling Patroclus, and wrecked not of
myself who was not with him. Fool that you were: for I, his comrade, mightier far than
he, was still left behind him at the ships, and now I have laid you low. The Achaeans
shall give him all due funeral rites, while dogs and vultures shall work their will upon
yourself.‖
Then Hector said, as the life ebbed out of him, ―I pray you by your life and knees, and
by your parents, let not dogs devour me at the ships of the Achaeans, but accept the
rich treasure of gold and bronze which my father and mother will offer you, and send
my body home, that the Trojans and their wives may give me my dues of fire when I
am dead.‖ Achilles glared at him and answered, ―Dog, talk not to me neither of knees
nor parents; would that I could be as sure of being able to cut your flesh into pieces
and eat it raw, for the ill you have done me, as I am that nothing shall save you from
the dogs—it shall not be, though they bring ten or twenty-fold ransom and weigh it
out for me on the spot, with promise of yet more hereafter. Though Priam son of
Dardanus should bid them offer me your weight in gold, even so your mother shall
never lay you out and make lament over the son she bore, but dogs and vultures
shall eat you utterly up.‖

Hector with his dying breath then said, ―I know you what you are, and was sure that I
should not move you, for your heart is hard as iron; look to it that I bring not heaven‘s
anger upon you on the day when Paris and Phoebus Apollo, valiant though you be,
shall slay you at the Scaean gates.‖
When he had thus said the shrouds of death enfolded him, whereon his soul went out
of him and flew down to the house of Hades, lamenting its sad fate that it should
enjoy youth and strength no longer. But Achilles said, speaking to the dead body,
―Die; for my part I will accept my fate whensoever Jove and the other gods see fit to
send it.‖
[SOURCE: https://bit.ly/37D081Q and https://bit.ly/2VILfIs]
ASSESSMENT
Directions: Have fun answering the following question.
1. Using a Venn diagram, compare and contrast Hector and Achilles. Give at
least three for differences and similarities.
2. In the confrontation between Achilles and Hector, which warrior has the
greater strength? Which has the greater integrity? Elaborate.
3. Eventually, Achilles will be killed by an arrow to his heel, his weakness.

Today‘s definition of Achilles‘ Heel is despite showing unsurmountable
strength, everyone has their own weak spots. Do you know anyone, even a
fictional character, who met their downfall even at the height of their power
and strength? Expound.
23 | P a g e
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LESSON 3: THE MYTH OF ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE
LESSON OUTCOMES
a. display mastery in the plot of the story; and
b. relate a song from any language to the theme of the story
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ibycus was a Greek lyric poet who became increasingly popular in the 6th century
BC. He is among the nine lyric poets that were listed in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC
by Hellenistic Alexandria scholars. Although Ibycus had a comfortable life at his
home Magna Graecia, Italy, he left there to live a wandering life.
Orpheus and Eurydice

Ibycus
Orpheus is known as the most talented music player of the ancient times. It is said
that god Apollo was his father, from whom took his extreme talent in music, and the
Muse Calliope was his mother. He was living in Thrace, on the northeastern part of
Greece. Orpheus had a divinely gifted voice that could charm everyone who heard it.
When he was presented first the lyre as a boy, he had it mastered in no time at all.
The myth says that no god or mortal could resist his music and even the rocks and
trees would move themselves to be near him.
According to some ancient texts, Orpheus is accredited to have taught agriculture,

writing and medicine to the mankind. He is also attributed with having been an
astrologer, a seer and founder of many mystic rites. The strange and ecstatic music
of Orpheus would intrigue the mind of people to things over natural and had the
power to broaden the mind to new unusual theories.
However, apart from a musical talent, Orpheus also had an adventurous character.
He was believed to have taken part in the Argonautic expedition, which is the voyage
of Jason and his fellow Argonauts to get to Colchis and steal the Golden Fleece. In
fact, Orpheus played a vital role during the expedition because, playing his music, he
put to sleep the "sleepless dragon" that was guarding the Golden Fleece and thus

Jason managed to get the Fleece. Moreover, the music of Orpheus saved the
Argonauts from the Sirens, the strange female-like creatures who were seducing
men with their nice voice and then they were killing them.
Orpheus used to spend much of his early years in the idyllic pursuits of music and
poetry. His skill had far surpassed the fame and respect of his music. Humans and
beasts alike would be enchanted by it and often even the most inanimate of objects
would yearn to be near him. Well into his youth he had mastered the lyre and his
melodious voice garnered him audiences from near and afar. It was at one such
gathering of humans and beasts that his eyes fell on a wood nymph. The girl was
called Eurydice, she was beautiful and shy. She had been drawn to Orpheus
enamored by his voice and such was the spell of beauty in music and appearance
that neither could cast their eyes off each other. Something inexplicable tugged the
hearts of the two young people and soon they fell dearly in love, unable to spend a
single moment apart. After a while, they decided to get married.
Their wedding day dawned bright and clear. Hymenaios, the god of marriage,
blessed their marriage and then a great feast followed. The surroundings were filled
with laughter and gaiety. Soon the shadows grew large, signaling an end to the
revelry that had lasted much of the day and the wedding guests all took leave of the
newly-weds, who were still sitting hand-in-hand and starry eyed. They soon both
realized that it was time they were on their way and departed for home.
However, things would soon change and grief would ensue happiness. There was
one man who was despising Orpheus and desired Eurydice for his own. Aristaeus, a
shepherd, had plotted a plan to conquer the beautiful nymph. And there he was,
waiting in the bushes for the young couple to pass by. Seeing that the lovers were
approaching, he intended to jump on them and kill Orpheus. As the shepherd made
his move, Orpheus grabbed Eurydice by the hand and started running pell-mell
through the forest.
The chase was long and Aristaeus showed no signs of giving up or slowing down. On
and on they ran and suddenly, Orpheus felt Eurydice stumble and fall, her hand
slipping from his grasp. Unable to comprehend what had just happened, he rushed to
her side but stopped short in dismay, for his eyes perceived the deathly pallor that
suffused her cheeks. Looking around, he saw no trace of the shepherd for Aristaeus
had witnessed the event and had left. Few steps away, Eurydice had stepped on a
25 | P a g e
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nest of snakes and had been bitten by a deadly viper. Knowing that there was no
chance of survival, Aristaeus had abandoned his try, cursing his luck and Orpheus.
After the death of his beloved wife, Orpheus was no more the same carefree person
he used to be. His life without Eurydice seemed endless and could do nothing more
than grief for her. This is when he had a great but yet crazy idea: he decided to go to
Underworld and try to get his wife back. Apollo, his father, would talk to Hades, the
god of the Underworld, to accept him and hear his plea.
Armed with his weapons, the lyre and voice, Orpheus approached Hades and
demanded entry into the underworld. None challenged him. Standing in front of the
rulers of the dead, Orpheus said why he was there, in a voice both mellifluous and
disquieting. He played his lyre and sang out to King Hades and Queen Persephone
that Eurydice was returned to him. Not even the most stone-hearted of people or
Gods could have neglected the hurt in his voice.
Hades openly wept, Persephone's heart melted and even Cerberus, the gigantic
three-headed hound guarding the entry to the underworld, covered his many ears
with his paws and howled in despair. The voice of Orpheus was so moving that
Hades promised to this desperate man that Eurydice would follow him to the Upper
World, the world of the living. However, he warned Orpheus that for no reason must
he look back while his wife was still in the dark, for that would undo everything he
hoped for. He should wait for Eurydice to get into the light before he looked at her.
With great faith in his heart and joy in his song, Orpheus began his journey out of the
underworld, joyful that he would once again be reunited with his love. As Orpheus
was reaching the exit of the Underworld, he could hear the footfalls of his wife
approaching him. He wanted to turn around and hug her immediately but managed to
control his feelings. As his was approaching the exit, his heart was beating faster and
faster. The moment he stepped on the world of the living, he turned his head to hug
his wife. Unfortunately, he got only a glimpse of Eurydice before she was once again
drawn back into the underworld.
When Orpheus turned his head, Eurydice was still in the dark, she hadn't seen the
sun and, as Hades had warned Orpheus, his sweet wife was drowned back to the
dark world of the dead. Waves of anguish and despair swept over him and
shuddering with grief he approached the Underworld again but this time, he was

denied entry, the gates were standing shut and god Hermes, sent by Zeus, wouldn't
let him in.
From then on, the heart-broken musician was wandering disoriented, day after day,
night after night, in total despair. He could find no consolation in anything. His
misfortune tormented him, forcing him to abstain from contact with any other woman
and slowly but surely he found himself shunning their company completely. His
songs were no more joyful but extremely sad. His only comfort was to lay on a huge
rock and feel the caress of the breeze, his only vision were the open skies.
And so it was that a group of irate women, furious for his scorn towards them,
chanced upon him. Orpheus was so desperate that he did not even try to repulse
their advances. The women killed him, cut his body into pieces and threw them and
his lyre into a river. It is said that his head and his lyre floated downriver to the island
of Lesvos. There the Muses found them and gave Orpheus a proper burial
ceremony. People believed that his grave emanated music, plaintive yet beautiful.
His soul descended down to Hades where he was finally reunited with his beloved
Eurydice.
[SOURCE: https://bit.ly/3lRICPD and https://bit.ly/2VMKuOY ]
27 | P a g e
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ASSESSMENT
Directions: The following are snippets of events from the myth. Rank these from 1 to
5 according to the correct sequence of events.
______1. Orpheus approached Hades and demanded entry into the underworld.
None challenged him. Standing in front of the rulers of the dead, Orpheus said why
he was there, in a voice both mellifluous and disquieting.
______2. Eurydice had stepped on a nest of snakes and had been bitten by a deadly
viper. Knowing that there was no chance of survival, Aristaeus had abandoned his
try, cursing his luck and Orpheus.
______3. The moment he stepped on the world of the living, he turned his head to
hug his wife. Unfortunately, he got only a glimpse of Eurydice before she was once
again drawn back into the underworld.
______4. Well into his youth he had mastered the lyre and his melodious voice
garnered him audiences from near and afar. It was at one such gathering of humans
and beasts that his eyes fell on a wood nymph. The girl was called Eurydice, she was
beautiful and shy. She had been drawn to Orpheus enamored by his voice and such
was the spell of beauty in music and appearance that neither could cast their eyes off
each other.
______5. The women killed him, cut his body into pieces and threw them and his lyre
into a river. It is said that his head and his lyre floated downriver to the island of
Lesvos.
Direction: Answer briefly the following question.

For you, what do you think would be the best song to describe the love story
of Eurydice and Orpheus? The song may be in any language. Explain why.

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