Literature: Tuesday, October 16, 2012

1. Handouts: * None

2. Homework: * Have an adventurous evening!

3. Assignments Due: 1) Lit book p. 250, #2 – 5 (#4 & #5 each require 4 sentences) 2) Lit book p. 251: Practice 1—find three hyperboles Practice 2—find five idioms

Today’s Goal: Learn about myths by reading and analyzing “Medusa’s Head” (lit book pp. 350 – 359 and 360 – 363).

Outcomes:1. State two key purposes of myths that make them distinct from

other types of folk lore.2. Explain what is meant by the term “fate.”3. Describe what an “oracle” is in mythology.4. List five characteristics of heroes in mythology.5. Analyze the myth, “Medusa’s Head,” to find examples of the

characteristics of mythological heroes.

Starter #1: What is the purpose of myths? Myths explain the world around us. But that’s not all they do. . . . Myths also portray the relationship between people and “the gods.” The gods are actively involved in the lives of human beings, and if one person emerges as a hero, you can bet it’s because he has a god or goddess working on his behalf.

I love this quote, because it is SO true: “In the word of myth, heroes do things we wish we could do . . .and things we are glad we don’t have to do!”

Today in our Folk Lore Unit, we are going to embark on an adventure as we read a myth titled, “Medusa’s Head.” You will enjoy this story even more if we can first add just a few items to your Literature “tool box.”

Starter #2: Cornell Notes on “Terms in Mythology”What is “fate”?

What is an “oracle”?

What are the characteristics of mythological heroes?

Open your Lit book to p. 350.

A power that decides one’s future—you can’t change it.

One who foretells the future, usually a priest or priestess. (When we say “priest,” we don’t mean a Catholic priest. That term can apply to any religious leader.)

Often helped by “the gods”Sometimes they themselves are godsThey have magical powers/abilitiesThey face overwhelming difficultiesUltimately, they often save their whole

society from ruin or destruction