ELT 212 SIM Weeks 1-3

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University of Mindanao
College of Teacher Education “Physically Distanced but Academically Engaged”
UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO
College of Teacher Education
Program : BSED – English
Physically Distanced but Academically Engaged
Weeks 1-3
Self-Instructional Manual (SIM) for Self-Directed Learning

(SDL)
Course/Subject: BSEd – English/ELT 212
Name of Teacher: MARIBEL C. ABALOS
THIS SIM/SDL MANUAL IS A DRAFT VERSION ONLY; NOT

FOR REPRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OUTSIDE OF ITS
INTENDED USE. THIS IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF
THE STUDENTS WHO ARE OFFICIALLY ENROLLED IN THE
COURSE/SUBJECT.
EXPECT REVISIONS OF THE MANUAL.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Cover Page 1
Table of Contents 2
Course Outline 4
Course Outline Policy 4
Course Information 7
Big Picture (Week 1-3)

ULOa: Recall Greco-Roman gods, goddesses,
and mythical creatures 8
Metalanguage 8
Essential Knowledge:
Mythology 8
Three Categories of Myth 9
The Olympians 9
Other gods and goddesses 9
Greek Mythology’s Heroes and Monsters 10
Nine Muses 10
The Fates 10
Keywords 11
Self-Help and Supplemental Readings 11
Self-Preparation 11
Let’s Check! 12
Let’s Recall!
Activity 1 12
Activity 2 14
ULOb: Describe Greco-Roman mythology

Metalanguage 16
Greek Classical Literary Figures 16
Roman Classical Literary Figures 17
Greek Creation Myth 17
Titanomachy 18
Gigantomachy 18
Greek Epics and Adventures
The Iliad 19
The Odyssey 19
Key Concepts 23
Keywords 24
Self-Preparation 24
Let’s Analyze! 25
ULOc: Critique Greco-Roman tales

Metalanguage 28
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Greek Tales of Love
Pygmalion and Galatea 28
Orpheus and Eurydice 30
The Rise of the Humans: The Prometheus Myth 32
Greek Heroic Tales
12 Labors of Hercules 35
Keywords 38
Self-Preparation 38
Let’s Analyze!
Activity 1 39
Activity 2 45
Activity 3 48
In a Nutshell 49
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Course Outline: ELT 212 – Mythology and Folklore
Course Coordinator: Maribel C. Abalos

Email: mabalos@umindanao.edu.ph
Student Consultation: Consultation Time: Wednesday from 3:30-4:30PM
Mobile: None
Phone: None
Effectivity Date: August 2020
Mode of Delivery: Blended Learning/Distance Education
(On-Line with face-to-face or virtual sessions)
Time Frame: 54 Hours/9 Weeks
Student Workload: Expected Self-Directed Learning
Requisites: None
Credit: 3
Attendance Requirements: A minimum of 95% attendance is required at all
scheduled virtual or face to face sessions.
Course Outline Policy
Areas of Concern Details

Contact and Non-contact Hours This 3-unit course self-instructional manual is designed
for blended learning/distance education mode of
instructional delivery with scheduled face to face or
virtual sessions. The expected number of hours will be
54 including the face to face or virtual sessions. The
face to face sessions shall include the summative
assessment tasks (exams) since this course is crucial
in the licensure examination for teachers.
Assessment Task Submission Submission of assessment tasks shall be on 3rd, 5th, 7th
and 9th week of the term. The assessment paper shall
be attached with a cover page indicating the title of the
assessment task (if the task is performance), the
name of the course coordinator, date of submission
and name of the student. The document should be
emailed to the course coordinator. It is also expected
that you already paid your tuition and other fees before
the submission of the assessment task.
If the assessment task is done in real time through the

features in the Blackboard Learning Management
System, the schedule shall be arranged ahead of time
by the course coordinator.
Since this course is included in the licensure

examination for teachers, you will be required to take
the Multiple-Choice Question exam inside the
University. This should be scheduled ahead of time by
your course coordinator. This is non-negotiable for all
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licensure-based programs.
Turnitin Submission (if To ensure honesty and authenticity, all assessment
applicable) tasks are required to be submitted through Turnitin
with a maximum similarity index of 30% allowed. This
means that if your paper goes beyond 30%, the
students will either opt to redo her/his paper or explain
in writing addressed to the course coordinator the
reasons for the similarity. In addition, if the paper has
reached more than 30% similarity index, the student
may be called for a disciplinary action in accordance
with the University’s OPM on Intellectual and Academic
Honesty.
Please note that academic dishonesty such as cheating

and commissioning other students or people to
complete the task for you have severe punishments
(reprimand, warning, expulsion).
Penalties for Late The score for an assessment item submitted after the
Assignments/Assessments designated time on the due date, without an approved
extension of time, will be reduced by 5% of the possible
maximum score for that assessment item for each day
or part day that the assessment item is late.
However, if the late submission of assessment paper

has a valid reason, a letter of explanation should be
submitted and approved by the course coordinator. If
necessary, you will also be required to present/attach
evidences.
Return of Assessment tasks will be returned to you two (2) weeks
Assignments/Assessments after the submission. This will be returned by email or
via Blackboard portal.
For group assessment tasks, the course coordinator

will require some or few of the students for online or
virtual sessions to ask clarificatory questions to validate
the originality of the assessment task submitted and to
ensure that all the group members are involved.
Assignment Resubmission You should request in writing addressed to the course
coordinator his/her intention to resubmit an assessment
task. The resubmission is premised on the student’s
failure to comply with the similarity index and other
reasonable grounds such as academic literacy
standards or other reasonable circumstances e.g.
illness, accidents, financial constraints.
Re-marking of Assessment You should request in writing addressed to the program
Papers and Appeal coordinator your intention to appeal or contest the
score given to an assessment task. The letter should
explicitly explain the reasons/points to contest the
grade. The program coordinator shall communicate
with the students on the approval and disapproval of
the request.
If disapproved by the course coordinator, you can

elevate your case to the program head or the dean with
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the original letter of request. The final decision will
come from the dean of the college.
Grading System Course exercises – 30% (including BlackBoard forum)
1st exam – 10%
2nd exam – 10%
3rd exam – 10%
Final exam – 40%
Preferred Referencing Style APA 6th Edition
Student Communication You are required to create a umindanao email account
which is a requirement to access the BlackBoard
portal. Then, the course coordinator shall enroll the
students to have access to the materials and resources
of the course. All communication formats: chat,
submission of assessment tasks, requests etc. shall be
through the portal and other university recognized
platforms.
You can also meet the course coordinator in person

through the scheduled face to face sessions to raise
your issues and concerns.
For students who have not created their student email,

please contact the course coordinator or program head.
Contact Details of the Dean Dr. Jocelyn B. Bacasmot
Email: jbacasmot@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone: 082-3050647 local 102
Contact Details of the Program Prof. Giovanni T. Pelobillo
Head Email: giovanni_pelobillo@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone: 082-3050647 local 102
Students with a Special Needs Students with special needs shall communicate with
the course coordinator about the nature of his or her
special needs. Depending on the nature of the need,
the course coordinator with the approval of the program
coordinator may provide alternative assessment tasks
or extension of the deadline of submission of
assessment tasks. However, the alternative
assessment tasks should still be in the service of
achieving the desired course learning outcomes.
Online Tutorial Registration (if You are required to enroll in a specific tutorial time for
applicable) this course via the www.cte.edu.ph portal. Please note
that there is a deadline for enrollment to the tutorial.
Help Desk Contact BSED@umindanao.edu.ph
Library Contact LIC Head: Brigida E. Bacani
Email: http://library.umindanao.edu.ph/
Phone: +63 305 0469
Guidance Services and Testing GSTC Head: Ronadora E. Deala
Center (GSTC) Email: ronadora_deala@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone: 0921-2122-846
GSTC Facilitator: Ivy Jane Regidor
Email: gstcmain@umindanao.edu.ph
Phone: 0910-5681-081
Facebook Page:
UM GSTC Main CTE
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Course Information – see/download course syllabus in the Black Board LMS
CC’s Voice: Hello aspiring English teacher! Welcome to this course ELT 212:
Mythology and Folklore. By now, I am confident that you really wanted
to become an English teacher and that you have visualized yourself
already being in the classroom setting and in the academe as a whole.
CO Before the actual teaching performance, you have to realize that an

English teacher has to be competent and knowledgeable in both
language and literature, and this subject focuses on the latter. The
expected course outcome of this subject is the recognition, deep
understanding, and appreciation of Greco-Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and
Philippine mythology. Thus, you are expected to be adept or familiar with
various myths from Greco-Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Philippine
mythology and their beliefs and practices. Finally, appreciation of the
wonders of mythology has to be shown in the required output.
Let us begin!
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Big Picture
Week 1-3: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are
expected to:
a. recall Greek and Roman gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures;

b. describe Greco-Roman mythology; and
c. critique Greco-Roman tales.
Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Recall Greek and Roman gods,

goddesses, and mythical creatures
Metalanguage
In this section, the essential term relevant to the study of mythology and
folklore to demonstrate ULOa will be conceptually defined to establish a common
frame of reference. Please refer to this definition in case you will encounter difficulty
in understanding literary concepts.
✓ Greco-Roman. Of or pertaining to Greek or Roman culture.

Please proceed to the “Essential Knowledge” for deeper discussion of the
essential terms.
Essential Knowledge
To perform the aforesaid big picture (Unit Learning Outcomes) for the first
three weeks of the course, you need to fully understand the following essential
knowledge that will be laid down in the succeeding pages. For specific references,
please see the list of Supplemental Readings at the end of the discussion of
concepts. Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer to these resources.
Thus, you are expected to utilize other books, research articles and other resources
that are available in the university’s library e.g. ebrary, search.proquest.com etc.
1. Mythology. A collection of myths, may contain the story of the origin of the
world, the creation of mankind, the feats of gods and heroes, or tragedies
which befell ancient families.
1.1 Myth. From the Greek word mythos which means story or legend. An
anonymous tale, ostensibly historical, the origins of which are
unknown. It contributes to and expresses a culture’s ideologies, beliefs,
and values. Oftentimes, it is ‘true’ for its culture.
1.2 Folklore. The songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or ‘folk’
as handed down by word of mouth. It also considers such things as
traditional ceremonies, architectural forms, and agricultural techniques
to be parts of folklore.
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2. Three Categories of Myth:
2.1 Myth of Creation. It explains the beginning of time, space, and man.
2.2 Myth of Explanation. It explains the great questions of the universe.
2.3 Myth of Morality. It teaches lessons and reinforce cultural morality.
3. The Olympians. The center of Greek mythology is the pantheon of deities
who lived on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. From there,
they ruled every aspect of human life. Mainly, they were in human form but
they could change themselves into animals and other things. They were
also vulnerable to human foibles and passions. The following are the 12
main Olympians with their Roman counterpart:
3.1 Zeus/Jupiter. King of all the gods (and father to many); most powerful
among all the gods; god of weather, law, and fate; thunderbolt is his
weapon; son of Cronus and Rhea
3.2 Hera/Juno. Queen of the gods; goddess of women and marriage; wife
and sister of Zeus; cows are sacred to her (ox-eyed Hera); peacock is
her symbol
3.3 Poseidon/Neptune. God of the sea and earthquake; second most
powerful among all the gods; trident is his weapon
3.4 Aphrodite/Venus. Goddess of beauty and love; mother of Eros; wife of
Hephaestus but lover of Ares and others; born from the foam in the sea
from the semen of Cronus
3.5 Apollo/Apollo. God of truth and prophesy, music and poetry,
knowledge, archery, and healing; son of Zeus and Leto; wolves,
dolphins, and crows are sacred to him; twin brother of Artemis
3.6 Ares/Mars. God of war; son of Zeus and Hera but both hate him; the
Romans glorify him but the Greeks take him as a coward
3.7 Artemis/Diana. Goddess of hunting, wild animals, and childbirth; virgin
goddess; stags are sacred to her; twin sister of Apollo
3.8 Athena/Minerva. Goddess of wisdom and defense; daughter of Zeus
and Metis; popped out of Zeus’s head after he swallowed the pregnant
Metis; carries a shield with Medusa’s head on it
3.9 Demeter/Ceres. Goddess of vegetation; has powers of growth and
resurrection; Persephone’s mother
3.10 Dionysus/Bacchus. God of wine, pleasure, and festivity; son of
Zeus and Semele
3.11 Hephaestus/Vulcan. God of fire, forge, and sculpture; son of
Zeus and Hera; the ugliest god
3.12 Hermes/Mercury. God of travel, hospitality, trade, and thieves;
speedy; Zeus’s personal messenger; son of Zeus and Maia
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4. Other gods and goddesses included in the roster of Olympians:
4.1 Hades/Pluto. God of the underworld and wealth; King of the dead but
he is not death; third most powerful among all the gods; has a helmet
that makes the wearer invisible; husband of Persephone; he is not evil
but is unmerciful
4.2 Hestia/Vesta. Goddess of home and hearth; gave up her spot on
Olympus for Dionysus
4.3 Eros/Cupid. God of sex; minion to Aphrodite; son of Ares and
Aphrodite; uses bow and arrow to cause one to fall in love
4.4 Hebe/Juventas. Goddess of youth; daughter of Zeus and Hera; wife of
Hercules; cupbearer to the gods
4.5 Eris/Discordia. Goddess of chaos, strife, and discord; daughter of
Zeus and Hera
5. Greek Mythology’s Heroes and Monsters:

5.1 Human Heroes: Achilles, Heracles, Jason, Odysseus, Perseus,
Theseus, Pandora, Pygmalion, Arachne, Midas, Narcissus
5.2 Monsters, Hybrids, and other creatures: Pegasus, Cerberus,
centaur, sphinx, Harpies, cyclops, automatons, manticore and
unicorns, gorgons, pygmies, minotaur, satyrs and dragons, Scylla,
charydbis, Erinyes, nymphs
6. Nine Muses. Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (which means memory,

the Titaness goddess of memory) conceived after sleeping together for
nine consecutive nights. The muses are sometimes referred to as ‘water
nymphs’ for being born from the four sacred springs on Helicon that flowed
from the ground after Pegasus stomped his hooves there. They were
embodiments of science, literature, and arts and were believed to live on
Mount Olympus where they entertain the Olympian gods with their artistry,
but later placed them on Mount Helicon or Mount Parnassus.
6.1 Calliope. Muse of epic poetry
6.2 Clio. Muse of history
6.3 Erato. Muse of love poetry
6.4 Euterpe. Muse of lyric poetry
6.5 Melpomene. Muse of tragedy
6.6 Polyhymnia. Muse of songs to the gods
6.7 Terpsichore. Muse of dance
6.8 Thalia. Muse of comedy
6.9 Urania. Muse of astronomy
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7. The Fates/Moirai. The three weaving goddesses who control the birth,
life, and death of every human. In Roman, they are the Parcae.
7.1 Clotho the Spinner. Spins the thread of life; the present
7.2 Lachesis the Measurer/Alloter. Chooses the lot in life one will have
and measures off how long it is to be; the future
7.3 Atropos, the Inflexible/she who cannot be turned. Cuts the thread
of life; the past
Note: For photographic references, please search on

https://www.pinterest.com/michellecassady/greek-gods-and-goddesses/
You may also search on google, instagram, and Facebook pages.
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Keywords
❖ Greco-Roman
❖ Mythology and Folklore
❖ Categories of Myth
❖ The Olympians
❖ Greco-Roman gods and goddesses
❖ Greek heroes and mythical creatures
Self-Help and Supplemental Readings: You can also refer to the

sources below to help you further understand the lesson:
Batey, M. (2016). Brand meaning: meaning, myth and mystique in today’s brands. 2 nd
edition.
New York: Routledge
Hamilton, E. (2017). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and heroes. Black Dog & Leventhal
Martin, R. (2016). Classical mythology: the basics. London: Routledge
Morford, M., Lenardon, R., & Sham, M. (2011). Classical mythology 9th edition. Oxford
University Press.
Self-Preparation: RRR – Remember, Recite, Repeat
This is the part where you will check your understanding by yourself. Take
time to remember the essential terms by reciting them aloud. You may also jot
down or record your self-recitation and revisit it. Repeat the process.
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Let’s Check!
Now that you know the most essential terms in the study of mythology and folklore in
Greek and Roman context, let us try to check your understanding of these terms. In
the space provided, WRITE the term/s being asked in the following statements:
_______________1. The collection of myths that contain stories of the origin of the
world, creation of human, battles of gods and heroes, and the like.
_______________2. A usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that

serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or
natural phenomenon.
_______________3. This myth teaches lessons and reinforce cultural morality.
_______________4. This myth explains the beginning of time.
_______________5. This myth explains the greatest question of the universe.

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Let’s Recall!
Activity 1. PROVIDE the missing information.
TITLE GREEK COUNTERPART ROMAN COUNTERPART

god of weather, law, fate 1 2
3 4 Apollo
5 6 Vulcan
7 Athena 8
god of war 9 10
goddess of beauty and 11 12
love
13 14 Pluto
15 Hermes 16
god of sex 17 18
19 20 Discordia
21 Hebe 22
23 24 Neptune
goddess of women and 25 26
marriage
27 Demeter 28
god of wine, pleasure, and 29 30
festivity
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Activity 2. Complete the sheet below.
Greek Mythical Creatures

Name Characteristic/s Image
(present in bullet form)
1 Charybdis
2 Pegasus
3 Hydra
4 Cerberus
5 Centaur
6 Minotaur
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7 Gorgon
8 Scylla
9 Erinyes
10 Sphinx
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Big Picture in Focus: ULOb. Describe Greco-Roman mythology
Metalanguage
For you to demonstrate ULOb, you will need to have a conceptual

understanding of the following terms below. Please note that you will also be
required to refer to the previous definitions found in ULOa section.
1. Characteristics of Myth. Myths contain deities and other supernatural

creatures and elements, explanation of natural phenomena, and are told
orally.
2. Greek Mythology. An oral tradition that began in the Bronze Age and its plot
and theme unfolded gradually in the written literature of the archaic and
classical periods.
3. Roman Mythology. Much of Romans’ mythology was derived from their
neighbors and predecessors, the Greeks. However, they still defined the rich
history of Roman people as they eventually grew into an empire.
Essential Knowledge
Take time to read the corresponding necessary concepts and information. For
specific references, please see the list of Supplemental Readings at the end of the
discussion of concepts. Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer to
these resources. Thus, you are expected to utilize other books, research articles and
other resources that are available in the university’s library e.g. ebrary,
search.proquest.com etc.
1. Greek Classical Literary Figures

1.1 Homer (c. 750 BCE)
o (perhaps) the greatest of all epic poets
o composer (not writer, since the poems were created and
transmitted orally; they were not written down until much later) of
Iliad and Odyssey
o acts as a great pool of information for the Greeks about their
gods
1.2 Hesiod (c. 700 BCE)
o one of the almost legendary early Greek epic poets
o his works are not of comparable length to Homer’s
o his poems are not epic because of their length, but because of
their language
o composer of Theogony and Works and Days
Note: The example above are not the only ones. You can explore online for
more information.
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2. Roman Classical Literary Figures

2.1 Ovid (43 BCE – 17 CE)
o Publius Ovidius Naso
o writer of Metamorphoses
2.2 Virgil (70-19 BCE)
o Publius Vergilius Maro
o writer of Aeneid
2.3 Horace (65-8 BCE)
o Quintus Horatius Flaccus
o writer of Epodes/Iambi and Satires/Semones
Note: The example above are not the only ones. You can explore
https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Literature/
You may also search on google for more information.
3. Greek Creation Myth. In the beginning, there was no earth, sky, or sea.
There was only confusion and darkness called Chaos. Chaos had two
children: Night (darkness) and Erebus (death). Chaos gave birth to Gaea or
Mother Earth. Eventually, she gave birth to a son, Uranus or Father Heaven.
Uranus and Gaea had three kinds of children: monsters, cyclops, and titans.
First, they had three monstrous sons. Each monster had 50 heads and 100
hands. Second, they had three more sons – the cyclops. Cyclops were just as
big and just as ugly. They had one eye in the middle of their foreheads and
were strong as earthquakes and tornadoes combined. Lastly, the titans who
were the first gods. They were enormous in size and had incredible strength.
The titans had six sons (Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, and
Cronus) and six daughters (Thea, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, and
Tethys).
Birth of the Olympians

Among their children was the greatest titan, Cronus. Cronus gained power
from his father, Uranus, by castrating him. Then, Cronus became ruler over Heaven
and Earth, and married his sister, Rhea. From their union came the Olympian gods.
Birth of Zeus
Power changed Cronus and made him evil. He was frightened that one of his
sons was going to do to him what he did to his father that he swallowed all of his
children immediately after their birth. But secretly, Rhea gave birth to her sixth son,
Zeus, and gave his to Mother Earth.
Rhea’s Plan
When Cronus asked to see the sixth son, Rhea handed him a rock wrapped in
a blanket. Just like the rest, Cronus swallowed the rock without hesitation, just as
she planned.
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Zeus’s Promise
Zeus was safely raised by nymphs and shepherds. Eventually, Zeus grew up
and Rhea told him about what Cronus did to his siblings. Zeus promised that he
would make Cronus pay for what he did.
Zeus’s Revenge
When Zeus returned to his mother, she disguised him as a servant and
concocted a poisonous potion for him to put into Cronus’s drink. The concoction
caused Cronus to vomit up each of his five children, one by one. Once everyone was
freed, the six children decided to battle against Cronus.
When the battle was over

The war lasted for 10 years. Finally, when it ended, Zeus and his siblings
were victorious. Now that the battle was over, the three brothers had to decide who
was going to rule the universe. It was decided that Hades would rule the Underworld,
Poseidon would rule the sea, and Zeus would rule the heaven and become the ruler
of all gods of Mount Olympus.
3.1 The Principal Gods/Cronus and Rhea’s Children. Zeus, Poseidon,
Hades, Hera, Hestia, Demeter
4. Titanomachy. titan (early Greek god) + machy (war) is a 10-year series of
battles fought in Thessaly/Aeolia between the Titans (Mount Othrys) and the
Olympians (Mount Olympus). The battle led by Zeus to overthrow his father,
Cronus.
5. Gigantomachy. Gigantes (sons of Uranus and Gaea) + machy (war)
Gaea was infuriated that the Titans had been locked away in Tartarus following
the Titanomachy. She prodded the Giants into their rebellion. Several years following
the defeat of the Titans, the Giants raised an uproar. Giants, creatures that rose from
the blood of Uranus, were serpent-footed, with thousand hands, and huge were also
invincible in their might. The Giants hurled rock upon rock to build a mountain that
would take them to the top of Mt. Olympus and harass the gods. Zeus plead for
Heracles and Dionysus to assist. Dionysus brought with him the many Satyrs (lustful
drunken woodland gods) to help with the battle. Through many years of battle, the
Olympians took control. Zeus managed to kill many Giants with his thunderbolts.
Heracles killed the rest with his arrows. Following the battle, Gaea buried her many
dead sons beneath the mountains.
Reference: https://youtu.be/-MSEsh6jgHE
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6. Greek Epics and Adventures.

Search the following online and read: Jason and the Golden Fleece; Aeneid;
Adventures of Odysseus/The Odyssey
6.1 Example Story: The Iliad by Homer
The Judgment of Paris

The Trojan War arose out of dispute among the goddess Hera, Athena, and
Aphrodite. They were guests at a wedding when the goddess Eris threw a golden
apple in their midst upon which was written ‘to the fairest’. Each of the three
goddesses believed that she should have the apple. To conclude, Zeus was asked
to judge. However, the king of all gods cannot choose who was the fairest among his
wife and his daughters. So he asked someone else.
Paris, the prince of Troy, was asked by Zeus to judge who was the fairest
among the three goddesses. For him to choose, they bribed him with what they
power can offer. Athena offered him ambition, fame, and success in war. Hera
offered him power, riches, and to be the king of Europe and Asia. Aphrodite offered
him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Then, Paris chose Aphrodite
to give him what she offered; but there was a problem – the most beautiful woman in
the world is Helen and she’s married. Helen is the wife of Menalaus, the king of
Sparta and the half-mortal daughter of Zeus. It is said that Helen was ‘the face that
launched a thousand ships’, for that is how many eventually set sail for Troy. This is
why Helen’s father, Tyndareus, was afraid of conflicts or wars because of her and so
he convinced Helen’s suitors to swear an oath (to always protect her) and to support
her chosen husband.
Paris visited Helen and King Menelaus and was welcomed as a guest; but his
intention was to kidnap Helen and so he did. Menelaus raised an army led by
Agamemnon, Menelaus’s brother and Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis, the
greatest Greek warrior.
The Battle
The Greeks and Trojans fought fiercely on the coastal plain, and although the
Greeks won many battles, they were unable to penetrate the defenses of the Trojan
city. The Greeks were supported by Hera and Athena, and also benefited from the
services of a number of mighty warriors within their ranks. The greatest of these was
undoubtedly Achilles, whose mother had dipped him into the river Styx when he was
a baby, thereby causing him to be virtually invincible in battles. Nonetheless, Achilles
agreed to lend his armor to his friend Patroclus. Unfortunately, Patroclus, mistaken
for Achilles, was killed by Hector, the son of King Priam, and the greatest of the
Trojan warriors.
With Patroclus dead, Achilles vowed to avenge his friend. He quickly found
his sworn enemy and following a fierce fight, Hector soon lay dead on the battlefield.
Achilles tied Hector’s body to the back of his chariot and then drove in glorious
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triumph around the walls of Troy. After much beseeching by King Priam, Achilles
eventually agreed to return Hector’s body to the Trojans.
Despite Hector’s death, the Greeks were still unable to break down the
defenses of Troy. And then tragedy struck! Achilles was slain, shot in the heel by
Paris. Achilles’s heel was where his mother held him when dipped into the river Styx;
thus, making it the only body part vulnerable.
The Trick
The war reached its tenth year, and yet neither side could gain. Alas!
Odysseus, king of Ithaca, came up with a cunning plan. He suggested that the
Greeks should build a huge wooden horse, inside of which are fifty of the strongest
warriors could be hidden.
Agamemnon eventually agreed to his idea, and the horse was built. The
chosen men, including the mastermind (Oydsseus), climbed up into the belly of the
horse, and the horse was left on the shore. The rest of the Greeks deserted their
camp and sailed to the other side of the nearby island, Tenedos. One Greek named
Sinon, a man renowned for making up stories, was left with the horse to convince the
Trojans that they should drag the hose into their city.
They Trojans were overjoyed when they saw that the Greeks had gone away.
They believed that the war was finally over. Then the horse arrived. They were in
awe of the horse and were unsure what to do with it. Sinon, who explained he had
been left as a deserter and a prisoner, told the Trojans that the horse had been built
as an offering to the god Poseidon to provide them with a safe passage on their way
back.
The Trojans were on the point of believing Sinon’s story when Laocoon, a
priest of Troy, claimed that the horse was a trick, and hurled a spear into the side of
the huge wooden stature. Luckily, no one inside was hit. Almost immediately, a huge
serpent appeared out of the sea and wrapped itself around Laocoon and his two
sons, dragging its wretched victims back under the waves. The Trojans, now left in
little doubt that the horse was truly an offering to Poseidon, readily accepted Sinon’s
story.
The Blunder
The Trojans dragged the wooden horse into their city, unaware of the danger
that was concealed inside the huge belly. Happy that the war was over, the Trojans
planned parties and celebrations that would last late into the night. They did not even
bother to post guards on the ramparts, so sure that the danger of attack had passed
with the departure of the Greeks. It did not take long for the Trojans to become
drunk, and soon they all fell into a deep sleep.
The Fall
It was then that the warriors descended from the belly of the horse. They crept
to the outer walls and opened the gates. Then they lit a fire on the ramparts as a
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signal to the rest of the Greeks, who in the meantime had returned to the mainland,
that the plan had worked. The sleeping revelers were easy prey for the rampaging
Greeks, and with the city burning, the Trojans were slaughtered without mercy.
The once proud city of Troy was reduced to a smoking ruin. The Greeks were
victorious. They prepared to sail back to their homelands – most completing the
journey in little time. However, many years were to pass before Odysseus would see
the shores of Ithaca again.
Did any Trojan survive the Greek massacre?

According to legend, Prince Aeneas escaped from the burning city with his
young family and his elderly father. The Roman poet Virgil, would have us
believe that Aeneas sailed to Italy and there founded a new settlement. From
this settlement emerged the great city of Rome.
(Read The Aeneid to learn about the rise of the Roman Empire)
6.2 Example Story: The Odyssey (8th century BCE oral narrative) by Homer
Ten years have passed since the fall of Troy, and the Greek hero Odysseus
still has not returned to his kingdom in Ithaca. A large and rowdy mob of suitors who
have overrun Odysseus’s palace and pillaged his land continue to court his wife,
Penelope. She has remained faithful to Odysseus. Prince Telemachus, Odysseus’s
son, wants desperately to throw them out but does not have the confidence or
experience to fight them. One of the suitors, Antinous, plans to assassinate the
young prince, eliminating the only opposition to their dominion over the palace.
Unknown to the suitors, Odysseus is still alive. The beautiful nymph Calypso,
possessed by love for him, has imprisoned him on her island, Ogygia. He longs to
return to his wife and son, but he has no ship or crew to help him escape. While the
gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus debate Odysseus’s future, Athena,
Odysseus’s strongest supporter among the gods, resolves to help Telemachus.
Disguised as a friend of the prince’s grandfather, Laertes, she convinces the prince
to call a meeting of the assembly at which he reproaches the suitors. Athena also
prepares him for a great journey to Pylos and Sparta, where the kings Nestor and
Menelaus, Odysseus’s companions during the war, inform him that Odysseus is alive
and trapped on Calypso’s island. Telemachus makes plans to return home, while,
back in Ithaca, Antinous and the other suitors prepare an ambush to kill him when he
reaches port.
On Mount Olympus, Zeus sends Hermes to rescue Odysseus from Calypso.

Hermes persuades Calypso to let Odysseus build a ship and leave. The homesick
hero sets sail, but when Poseidon, god of the sea, finds him sailing home, he sends
a storm to wreck Odysseus’s ship. Poseidon has harbored a bitter grudge against
Odysseus since the hero blinded his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, earlier in his
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travels. Athena intervenes to save Odysseus from Poseidon’s wrath, and the
beleaguered king lands at Scheria, home of the Phaeacians. Nausicaa, the
Phaeacian princess, shows him to the royal palace, and Odysseus receives a warm
welcome from the king and queen. When he identifies himself as Odysseus, his
hosts, who have heard of his exploits at Troy, are stunned. They promise to give him
safe passage to Ithaca, but first they beg to hear the story of his adventures.
Odysseus spends the night describing the fantastic chain of events leading up
to his arrival on Calypso’s island. He recounts his trip to the Land of the Lotus
Eaters, his battle with Polyphemus the Cyclops, his love affair with the witch-
goddess Circe, his temptation by the deadly Sirens, his journey into Hades to consult
the prophet Tiresias, and his fight with the sea monster Scylla. When he finishes his
story, the Phaeacians return Odysseus to Ithaca, where he seeks out the hut of his
faithful swineherd, Eumaeus. Though Athena has disguised Odysseus as a beggar,
Eumaeus warmly receives and nourishes him in the hut. He soon encounters
Telemachus, who has returned from Pylos and Sparta despite the suitors’ ambush,
and reveals to him his true identity. Odysseus and Telemachus devise a plan to
massacre the suitors and regain control of Ithaca.
When Odysseus arrives at the palace the next day, still disguised as a
beggar, he endures abuse and insults from the suitors. The only person who
recognizes him is his old nurse, Eurycleia, but she swears not to disclose his secret.
Penelope takes an interest in this strange beggar, suspecting that he might be her
long-lost husband. Quite crafty herself, Penelope organizes an archery contest the
following day and promises to marry any man who can string Odysseus’s great bow
and fire an arrow through a row of twelve axes—a feat that only Odysseus has ever
been able to accomplish. At the contest, each suitor tries to string the bow and fails.
Odysseus steps up to the bow and, with little effort, fires an arrow through all twelve
axes. He then turns the bow on the suitors. He and Telemachus, assisted by a few
faithful servants, kill every last suitor.
Odysseus reveals himself to the entire palace and reunites with his loving
Penelope. He travels to the outskirts of Ithaca to see his aging father, Laertes. They
come under attack from the vengeful family members of the dead suitors, but
Laertes, reinvigorated by his son’s return, successfully kills Antinous’s father and
puts a stop to the attack. Zeus dispatches Athena to restore peace. With his power
secure and his family reunited, Odysseus’s long ordeal comes to an end.
Source: https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/odyssey/summary/
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Key Concepts:
THE ILIAD THE ODYSSEY

▪ Ilium – Greek for Troy ▪ Odysseus’s journey to return to
Greece
▪ 10 years ▪ 10 years
▪ The story of the Trojan War. ▪ Happened after the Trojan
War/Iliad
▪ The fight over Helen of Troy. ▪ A metaphor for every person’s
journey through life.
Note: For photographic references, please search on
https://www.alamy.co,m/stock-photo/homer-iliad.html
You may also search on google, instagram, and Facebook pages.
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Keywords
❖ Characteristics of Myth
❖ Greco-Roman Classical Literary Figures
❖ Greek Creation Myth
❖ Titanomachy and Gigantomachy
❖ Greek Epics and Adventures
❖ Iliad and Odyssey

Cartwright, M. (2018). Trojan war. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/Trojan_war/
Cartwright, M. (2017). Iliad. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/iliad/
Cartwright, M. (2012). Jason and the Argonauts. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved
from
https://www.ancient.eu/article/425/jason--the-argonauts/
Hamilton, E. (2017). Mythology: Timeless tales of gods and heroes. Black Dog & Leventhal
Lloyd, J. (2013). Homer. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/homer/
Morford, M., Lenardon, R., & Sham, M. (2011). Classical mythology 9th edition. Oxford
University Press.
Wasson, D. (2017). Ovid. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/ovid/
Wasson, D. (2017). Virgil. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/virgil/
Wasson, D. (2017). Horace. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/Horace/
Self-Preparation: RRR – Remember, Recite/Retell, Repeat
time to remember the essential terms and stories by reciting and retelling them
aloud. You may also jot down or record your self-recitation and revisit it.
Repeat the process.
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Let’s Analyze!
ELABORATE your answers to the following questions:
1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Greek creation myth?
✓ Strengths (+)
a. ___________________________________________________________
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b. ___________________________________________________________
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c. ___________________________________________________________
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d. ___________________________________________________________
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e. ___________________________________________________________
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✓ Weaknesses (-)
a. ___________________________________________________________
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b. ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
c. ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
d. ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
e. ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
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2. Do you believe that the Greek creation myth, Titanomachy, and

Gigantomachy happened? Why or why not?
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3. Among the Greek epics and adventures, which is your most favorite? Why?
Cite specific situations in the story that struck your interest. Which character
put you in awe? Which character is your inspiration?
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Big Picture in Focus: ULOc. Critique Greco-Roman tales
Metalanguage
I would like to highly recommend that you refresh your knowledge about
ULOa (Greco-Roman deities and mythical creatures) and ULOb (Greek myths and
tales) to understand further ULOc.
Essential Knowledge
Greek mythology is not only popular because of its creation myth; the battle
between the Olympians against the Titans and the Giants; the Trojan War; and the
many adventures but also because of its exaggerated yet amusing tales of love and
heroism. The following are few examples:
(For specific references, please see the list of Supplemental Readings at the end of
the discussion of concepts. Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer
to these resources. Thus, you are expected to utilize other books, research articles
and other resources that are available in the university’s library e.g. ebrary,
search.proquest.com etc.)
1. Greek Tales of Love. Cupid & Psyche, Orpheus & Eurydice, Pygmalion &
Galatea
1.1 Example Story: Pygmalion and Galatea
Characters:
o Pygmalion. King of Cyprus who made a female figure of ivory that is brought
to life for him by Aphrodite
o Galatea. A female figure sculpted by Pygmalion and given life by Aphrodite in
fulfillment of his prayer
Pygmalion and Galatea I: The Heart Desires

Pygmalion is seen in his studio, with a look of deep thought etched on his
face. Disgusted by the debauched lifestyle of the local women, he decided to stay
celibate and devote his life to his craft. Oblivious to the women through his doorway,
nor to his previous statues that remind us of the Three Graces, he sees in his mind
an image of the perfect woman he’s yet to create.
Pygmalion and Galatea II: The Hand Refrains

One day, Pygmalion has completed his creation of a woman of his dreams
and hopelessly falls in love with it. In the moment of inspiration, he names the
figurine, Galatea, meaning “she who is white like milk”. Countless were nights and
days he spent staring at her. Tools and instruments, including the almost translucent
soft brush, scattered beneath its feet show the work he’s put into perfecting it.
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Pygmalion and Galatea III: The Godhead Fires
In the meantime, the city was celebrating the festival in the name of the
goddess Aphrodite. While making offerings to Aphrodite, Pygmalion prayed with all
his heart and soul, for the goddess to bring his statue to life. Touched by his deep
veneration, the goddess visits his studio and was amazed by the beauty she’d
discovered and grants the artist’s wish.
Pygmalion and Galatea IV: The Soul Attains

Upon returning home, Pygmalion noticed a flush on the cheeks of the sculpture,
and slowly he realized that his prayer was heard. He embraces Galatea, and life
breathed into the cold marble. Their love blossomed and wedding vows were
exchanged. With the blessings of the goddess Aphrodite, they lived happily ever
after. The couple had a son, Paphos, who later founded the city Paphos in Cyprus.
Source: Story of Pygmalion and Galatea by Sir Edward Burne-Jones (Story and Photos)
https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/story-of-pygmalion-and-galatea/amp/#referrer=https://www.google.com
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1.2 Example Story: Orpheus and Eurydice
Characters:
o Orpheus. Son of Apollo; greatest of all human musicians who plays the lyre;
when he would play his lyre, objects would come to life, and beings would
become entranced by his music
o Eurydice. A beautiful forest nymph who dies from a snake bite and
descended to the underworld
Orpheus Falls in Love with Eurydice

One day, Orpheus was in the woods playing the lyre that his father had given him
when he noticed a beautiful wooden nymph named Eurydice. Eurydice had heard
Orpheus playing the lyre, and she was drawn to the beautiful music. Likewise,
Orpheus was drawn to the beauty of Eurydice. It was love at first sight for them.
Orpheus and Eurydice Get Married

Orpheus and Eurydice were madly in love and spending all their time together, so
they got married. They had a beautiful ceremony with a festive celebration afterward.
Hymenaios, the god of marriage who blessed their matrimony, warned Orpheus and
Eurydice that the harmony of their marriage would not last. However, Orpheus and
Eurydice were in love, and nothing seemed to be less than perfect in their
relationship.
A Fatal Snakebite
Eurydice was a beautiful nymph, and her beauty was apparent to more than just
Orpheus. A shepherd named Aristaeus had noticed Eurydice’s beauty and wanted
her for himself, so he hid in the bushes and waited for her. He planned to kill
Orpheus and Eurydice as his own.
As Eurydice and Orpheus neared, Aristaeus jumped out but was unable to kill
Orpheus. Instead, Orpheus grabbed Eurydice, and they began running through the
woods away from Aristaeus chased them. Orpheus held Eurydice’s hand as they ran
through the woods until he felt her fall and slip out of her hands.
When they turned around, Orpheus saw Eurydice had stepped on a venomous
snake that had bitten her. She was dying, and Orpheus was unable to save her.
Eurydice died in the woods from a venomous snakebite and descended to the
underworld.
Orpheus Goes to the Underworld

Orpheus was not the same person he was after Eurydice died. He no longer
enjoyed playing the lyre, and he no longer enjoyed life. Orpheus wanted Eurydice
back, and he did the only thing he knew – he asked his father for help.
Orpheus asked Apollo to help him go into the underworld and retrieve his wife.
Apollo went to Hades and told him that Orpheus wanted to visit him to request the
return of his wife, Eurydice.
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With his lyre in hand, Orpheus made his way into the underworld and found
Hades. Orpheus played his lyre and sang to Hades and those in the underworld to
hear. Everyone in the underworld was moved by the beautiful song that Orpheus
played for his wife.
Hades agreed to let Orpheus take his wife to the upper world under one condition
– Orpheus had to lead Eurydice out of the underworld and could not look back at her
for any reason.
Hades told Orpheus that he could look at Eurydice when she finally entered the
light of the upper world, but he could not look at her while she was in the dark in the
underworld. Hades warned that if Orpheus turned and looked at Eurydice while she
was still in the dark, she would be condemned to the underworld forever.
Orpheus was overjoyed that his plan had worked, and he began leading Eurydice
out of the underworld. As they were nearing the upper world, Orpheus could hear the
land of the living above him and could not contain his excitement.
Orpheus finally entered the light in the upper world and turned to embrace his
wife, but she had not emerged from the underworld. She was still in the dark when
Orpheus turned around to hug her. At that moment, Eurydice was condemned to the
underworld forever.
Source: The Tragic Myth About Orpheus and Eurydice (Story and Photos)
https://www.theoi.com.articles/the-tragic-myth-about-orpheus-and-eurydice/
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1.3 Example Story: The Rise of the Humans: The Prometheus Myth
Characters:
o Prometheus. The titan god of fire and forethoughts; son of sea nymph,
Clymene and titan Iapetus; brother of Atlas, Menoetius, and Epimetheus;
husband of Hesione, daughter of titan Oceanus; his name means ‘looking
forward’
o Epimetheus. Ignored the warnings of Prometheus to beware gifts from Zeus;
husband of Pandora
o Pandora. The first woman on earth, who had been given a box by Zeus and
instructed not to open it, but disobeyed out of curiosity
The Rise of Humans

In the Biblical creation story, God created humans as his crowning
achievement. In Greek myth, Prometheus created humans by shaping lumps of clay
into small figures resembling the gods. Athena admired these figures and breathed
on them, giving them life. Zeus disliked the creatures, but he could not uncreate
them. He did, however, confine them to the earth and denied them immortality.
Prometheus felt sorry for humans. The gods of Olympus wanted humans to worship
them with animal sacrifices, the meat and not the bones.
Meat was a luxury, so large animals like sheep, cows, pigs and goats, were
usually slaughtered in honor of the gods. In family or state festivals, chosen animals
would be prepared, led to an altar in procession, then ceremonially killed in front of
festival participants. A small portion of meat was burned on the altar, for the gods
while humans shared the rest.
Prometheus the Trickster

Prometheus was chosen to cut up an animal for sacrifice so that Zeus could
choose which half he preferred to decide once and for all just which portions went to
the gods and which to the hungry people.
He defied the gods so he could help the humans – tricking Zeus to establish a
sacred ritual of sacrifice which favored humans and made them forever separate
from gods. He piled up the edible meat and made it look unappealing by placing
animal skin and stomach on top. He then covered the inedible bones with a thick
layer of animal fat so that it looked ready for a feast. Zeus, falling for Prometheus’
clever plan, chose the pile of bones and animal fat for sacrifice to the gods and
humankind got to keep the meat.
The Angry Zeus, the Theft of Fire, The Revenge of Zeus

Angered by Prometheus’ act, Zeus denied humans fire. They could not warm
themselves, work metals, or cook their food. So, Prometheus climbed Mount
Olympus in secret and stole fire from the gods and travelled every place where
humans lived giving them the gift of fire.
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Furious Zeus ordered Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship, to create a
beautiful woman out of clay. The gods endowed her with many talents: Aphrodite
gave her beauty, Apollo gave her music, Hermes gave her persuasion, and so forth.
Hence her name Pandora, ‘all-gifted’.
A Gift from the Gods

Zeus presents Pandora with a large box closed and sealed. He instructs her
not to open it. He then calls upon Hermes to deliver Pandora as a gift from the gods
to the titan Epimetheus, brother of Prometheus. Prometheus, the smarter of the two,
warns his brother to be wary of any gift coming from Zeus. Epimetheus saw how
beautiful Pandora was and decided to marry her.
[Previously the human race used to live completely free from evils and hard work
and painful diseases. But the woman removed the great cover of the jar with her
hands and scattered the evils within and for mortals devised sorrowful troubles.
Hope alone remained within there under the edge of the jar.]
For weeks Pandora resisted the box, but one day she broke the seal and opened
it. Out flew all the diseases, sorrows and disasters that afflict humankind. Pandora
tried to close the box but more and more troubles covered the earth. The only thing
she could keep hold of was hope.
~SIDE NOTE~
Pandora may be a more profound figure though. Her name means ‘all gifts’ because
all the gods gave her gifts? or because she brings all things, good and evil, to
humans?
As in the Adam and Eve story, a woman brings evil to humans. But perhaps, as
Joseph Campbell suggests… women, representing life processes, real birth, and
real death, represent the real world, not “paradise”.
More Troubles for Prometheus

Zeus was pleased by his punishment to humankind and now focused on
Prometheus. But there’s more up to his sleeves. Prometheus knew of the prophecy
that spoke of the goddess Thetis giving birth to a son that would overthrow his father,
Zeus. Zeus knew of the prophecy but not the name of the goddess and Prometheus
refused to name the goddess. So Zeus decided to torture the secret out of
Prometheus.
Prometheus Bound
First, Prometheus was captured and hurled into Tartarus, but he would not
speak. Since he could not die, Zeus brought him out of Tartarus and had him
chained to Mount Caucasus. Every day a huge vulture flew to the rock and pecked
out his liver, and every night the flesh healed again.
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A Way Out
Human lifetimes came and went and still Prometheus hung burning and bleeding
by day and freezing by night. He knew that he would be free only if another of the
immortals went down to the underworld, to Hades’ realm of death, of their own free
will or if he spoke the name of the goddess who would give birth to the son that
would overthrow Zeus.
The End of Prometheus’ Suffering

One day, Heracles found his way to Mount Caucasus and shot the vulture.
Also, while accomplishing his 12 labors, Heracles accidentally shot his friend Chiron,
a centaur, (half human, half horse) with a poison arrow leaving a wound that could
not heal. Chiron begged for death and offered to go to underworld instead of
Prometheus. Prometheus feeling pity for the centaur accepted his offer and then said
the name “Thetis”. Immediately, his chains fell from him and he was free.
Peace At Last
Prometheus was welcomed back to Olympus on the condition that all his
cleverness was to be put to use for the gods, not against them. Zeus quickly
arranged for Thetis to marry a mortal man so that her son would surpass only his
mortal father and not endanger the throne of the king of the gods.
Reference: Prometheus by Mark Cartwright (20 April 2013) (Story and Photos)
https://www.ancient.eu/Prometheus/
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2. Greek Heroic Tales.

Search the following online and read: Perseus, Medusa, and Pandora;
Theseus, the Great Athenian Hero
2.1 Example Story: Hercules
12 Labors of Hercules
1. To kill the Nemean lion who was impervious to all weapons. He trapped
the lion in a cave and strangled it with his bare hands. He then skinned it
and ever after wore the skin as his cloak.
2. To kill the monster known as Hydra who had nine venomous heads and,
when one was cut off, two more would grow in its place. With his nephew
Iolaus, Hercules cut off the heads and Iolaus then seared the necks with a
torch to prevent them growing back. Hercules then dipped his arrows in
the Hydra’s blood for future use; since it was so venomous, it killed
quickly. Because he had help in this labor, Eurystheus would not count it
as one of the ten and assigned another.
3. To capture the Cerynitian Hind who was sacred to the goddess Artemis.
Hercules spent over a year trying to catch the deer with the golden antlers
alive and finally brought it down with an arrow to the hoof. Even so,
Artemis refused to allow him to take the deer – and would have killed him
for hunting it – until she heard the story of his labors and let him go.
4. To capture the Erymanthian Boar. This labor took Hercules to the land of
Centaurs, and the wine he had been given to attract the boar drew the
centaurs to him. They attacked him and he had to kill many of them but
brought the boar back alive to Eurystheus. It was during this labor that he
took part in the adventure with the hero Jason and his Argonauts.
5. Cleaning the Stable of Augeius in a day. Eurytheus felt this side-adventure
with the Argonauts was an unnecessary luxury on Hercules’ part and so
devised an impossible task for his next labor. The stables of King Augeius
were immense and his herd vast, and there seemed to be no way for
anyone to clean them in a month, let alone a day. Hercules said he would
do it but made Augeius promise him a tenth of the herd if he succeeded.
Augeius agreed since he knew he could not lose, but Hercules diverted
two rives to flow through the stables and clean them completely. Augeius
then refused to honor the deal he had made. Hercules felt cheated and
swore he would return and kill Augeius once he had completed his labors
for Eurystheus. Eurystheus, however, told him he could receive no
payment for his labors and that, by trying to profit, he had disqualified that
labor and would have to do another to make up for it.
6. To drive away the Stymphalian Birds who were ravaging the countryside.
He accomplished this with a rattle startled the birds who flew away, and
Hercules shot them down with his arrows in flight.
7. To bring back the Cretan Bull from Knossos. The bull belonged to King
Minos of Crete and was sacred to the god of the seas, Poseidon;
accordingly, it could walk on water. Minos no longer wanted the bull
because his wife had fallen in love with it and, in fact, had become
pregnant by it (giving birth to the Minotaur), and so Minos happily gave the
bull to Hercules who rode it across the sea from Crete to Athens and
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brought it to Eurystheus. The bull was then released and would cause
further trouble throughout Attica until it was finally killed by Theseus.
8. To bring back the Mares of Diomedes. Diomedes was a Thracian king who
fed his horses on a steady diet of human flesh so that no one could come
near them. Hercules fed Diomedes to the horses and, when they were full,
brought them back to Eurystheus. It was during this labor, either going to
or coming from Diomedes’ palace, that Hercules stopped to visit his old
friend Admetus whose wife Alcestis had recently died. Hercules wrestled
death for the soul of Alcestis and returned her to her husband.
9. To bring back Hippolyte’s Girdle. Hippolyte was the queen of the
Amazons, and her belt (girdle) was a symbol of her right to rule. The
Amazons originally welcomed Hercules but Hera, disguised as one of
them, spread a rumor that Hercules had come to kidnap the queen and
enslave them. The women attacked Hercules and Hippolyte was killed in
the fight; Hercules then took her belt and left. In another version of this
labor, however, no one dies; Hercules kidnaps Hippolyte’s sister and
ransoms her for the belt and then leaves peacefully. On his return voyage
he has many other side-adventures, which further enrage Eurytheus, but
he accepts the girdle as a legitimate labor.
10. To bring back the cattle of Geryon, king od Cadiz. Hercules had many
side-adventures on this labor, including inadvertently building the Pillars of
Hercules at Gibraltar and threatening to shoot the sun with his arrows for
making his too hot. When he finally reached Cadiz (Spain), he had many
problems rounding up the cattle, including having to chase down a bull
(the herd had to be complete in order to be accepted for the labor).
Bringing the cattle back to Greece, Hera sent gadflies to sting the beasts
and scattered them, so Hercules had to round them up again. The
princess Celtine saw Hercules and fell in love with him. She hid the cattle
and would not divulge their whereabouts unless he had sex with her. This
he did and so became the father of Celtus, progenitor of the Celts. He
finally brought the cattle back to Eurystheus who accepted the labor as
legitimate.
11. To bring back the Golden Apples of Hesperides. En route to the sacred
grove where the apples grew, Hercules found Prometheus bound to his
rock and set him free. Prometheus was grateful and told him that the
apples were guarded by a dragon name Ladon who could not be
conquered, and so Hercules should try to get the titan Atlas, who help up
the earth and heavens on his shoulders, to get the apples for him. When
Hercules reached the grove, Atlas agreed to help, but Hercules would
have to shoulder the weight of the world while Atlas went to get the apples.
Hercules accepted the load and Atlas got the apples. When he returned,
however, Atlas did not want to take the weight back and was going to
leave Hercules in his place. Hercules cheerfully agreed to stay and hold up
the universe but asked Atlas if he could take the weight again for just one
moment so that he could adjust his cloak to cushion his shoulders. Atlas
took back the universe and Hercules picked up the apples and left.
12. To bring back Cerberus, the guard dog of the underworld. For the last
labor, Eurystheus decided on something he knew would be impossible: to
bring back, alive, the three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to
Hades. Before he could enter the underworld, Hercules had to become
39
initiated in the Eleusinian Mysteries at the sacred city of Eleusis. He then
journeyed to Hades, where he had further adventures in the underworld
such as freeing his cousin Theseus from the Chair of Forgetfulness where
he had been bound. He also spoke with the hero Meleager, with whom he
had journeyed with the Argonauts, who told him that, when he returned to
earth, he should marry Meleager’s sister Deianira. Hercules was allowed
by Hades to take Cerberus provided he did not hurt the dog. He wrestled
Cerberus into submission and brought him back to Eurystheus who was so
terrified of the animal that he told Hercules all the labors were done and to
bring the dog back to where he’d found it.
Source: The Life of Hercules in Myth and Legend by Joshua J. Mark published in
Ancient History Encyclopedia on July 23, 2014
https://www.ancient.eu/article/733/the-life-of-hercules-in-myth--legend/
Note: If you wish to watch the motion picture of the cited tales, you may. However, do not
confuse yourself with the events in the film and in the book. Remember, the book is the original; the
film is only an adaptation with additional or removed occurrences and characters from the book.
40
Keywords
❖ Greek Tales of Love ❖ Greek Heroic Tales

❖ Pygmalion and Galatea, Cupid and ❖ Hercules
Psyche, Orpheus and Eurydice ❖ Perseus and Medusa
❖ Prometheus ❖ Theseus
❖ Pandora’s Box

Carr, K. (2017). Pandora’s box story – Greek mythology. Quatr.us Study Guides. Retrieved
from https://quatr.us/greeks/pandoras-box-greek-mythology.htm
Cartwright, M. (2016). Theseus. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/Theseus
Cartwright, M. (2012). Perseus. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

https://www.ancient.eu/Perseus
Mark, J. (2014). The life of Hercules in myth and legend. Ancient History Encyclopedia.
Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/article/733/
Riordan, R. (2015). Percy Jackson’s Greek heroes. Disney. Hyperion: New York, USA.
Self-Preparation: RRR – Remember, Recite/Retell, Repeat
time to remember the essential terms and stories by reciting and retelling them
aloud. You may also jot down or record your self-recitation and revisit it.
Repeat the process.
41
Let’s Analyze!
Activity 1. In this activity, you are going to ALTER the decisions made by certain
characters in the famous tales of love and heroism of Greece. ELABORATE your
altered decision by sharing a personal or vicarious experience.
1. If I were Psyche, I would
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2. If I were Galatea, I would
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3. If I were Orpheus, I would
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4. If I were Pandora, I would
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5. If I were Perseus, I would
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6. If I were Medusa, I would
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Activity 2. In this activity, you are going to SCRUTINZE the Greeks’ tales of love.
EXPOUND your answer to the question below.
1. What is the common denominator among the Greeks’ tales of love? In which
tales can this ‘common denominator’ be found? How is it exemplified?
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2. Is this ‘common denominator’ existent in our present time? Why or why not?
Cite a situation.
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3. What is the greatest love lesson one can learn from studying the Greeks’ tales
of love?
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Activity 3. In this activity, you are going to OPPOSE or CONFORM. Justify your
answer well.
Are the actions of Hera toward Heracles righteous? Relate to and cite a real-life
experience.
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In a Nutshell
The study of mythology and folklore is indeed pre-requisite to becoming a quality

English teacher. It is a complex and arduous body of knowledge which requires
content and teaching expertise including knowledge outside the classroom and
school.
Based from the definition of the most essential terms in the study of mythology and
folklore and the learning exercises that you have done, please feel free to write your
arguments or lessons learned below. I have indicated my arguments or lessons
learned.
1. Greek mythology has influenced its country’s civilization.

2. Greek mythology has enticed other race’s curiosity and amusement.
Your Turn
3. ______________________________________________________________
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4. ______________________________________________________________
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5. ______________________________________________________________
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6. ______________________________________________________________
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7. ______________________________________________________________
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8. ______________________________________________________________
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9. ______________________________________________________________
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54
10. ______________________________________________________________
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11. ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
12. ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.

ELT 212 SIM Weeks 1-3

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1

Physically Distanced but Academically Engaged

Self-Instructional Manual (SIM) for Self-Directed Learning

Course/Subject: BSEd – English/ELT 212

Name of Teacher: MARIBEL C. ABALOS

THIS SIM/SDL MANUAL IS A DRAFT VERSION ONLY; NOT

Big Picture (Week 1-3)

ULOb: Describe Greco-Roman mythology

ULOc: Critique Greco-Roman tales

Course Outline: ELT 212 – Mythology and Folklore

Course Coordinator: Maribel C. Abalos

Course Outline Policy

Areas of Concern Details

If the assessment task is done in real time through the

Since this course is included in the licensure

Please note that academic dishonesty such as cheating

However, if the late submission of assessment paper

For group assessment tasks, the course coordinator

If disapproved by the course coordinator, you can

You can also meet the course coordinator in person

For students who have not created their student email,

Course Information – see/download course syllabus in the Black Board LMS

CO Before the actual teaching performance, you have to realize that an

a. recall Greek and Roman gods, goddesses, and mythical creatures;

Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Recall Greek and Roman gods,

✓ Greco-Roman. Of or pertaining to Greek or Roman culture.

5. Greek Mythology’s Heroes and Monsters:

6. Nine Muses. Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (which means memory,

Note: For photographic references, please search on

Self-Help and Supplemental Readings: You can also refer to the

Martin, R. (2016). Classical mythology: the basics. London: Routledge

Self-Preparation: RRR – Remember, Recite, Repeat

_______________2. A usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that

_______________3. This myth teaches lessons and reinforce cultural morality.

_______________4. This myth explains the beginning of time.

_______________5. This myth explains the greatest question of the universe.

Activity 1. PROVIDE the missing information.

TITLE GREEK COUNTERPART ROMAN COUNTERPART

Greek Mythical Creatures

Big Picture in Focus: ULOb. Describe Greco-Roman mythology

For you to demonstrate ULOb, you will need to have a conceptual

1. Characteristics of Myth. Myths contain deities and other supernatural

1. Greek Classical Literary Figures

2. Roman Classical Literary Figures

Birth of the Olympians

When the battle was over

6. Greek Epics and Adventures.

The Judgment of Paris

Did any Trojan survive the Greek massacre?

On Mount Olympus, Zeus sends Hermes to rescue Odysseus from Calypso.

THE ILIAD THE ODYSSEY

Self-Help and Supplemental Readings: You can also refer to the

Cartwright, M. (2018). Trojan war. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Cartwright, M. (2017). Iliad. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Lloyd, J. (2013). Homer. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Wasson, D. (2017). Ovid. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Wasson, D. (2017). Virgil. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Wasson, D. (2017). Horace. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from

Self-Preparation: RRR – Remember, Recite/Retell, Repeat

ELABORATE your answers to the following questions:

1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Greek creation myth?

2. Do you believe that the Greek creation myth, Titanomachy, and

put you in awe? Which character is your inspiration?