Characters
Who is Persephone’s mother?
Demeter
What food causes Persephone to return to the underworld each year?
Pomegranate seeds
What does disdain mean
strong dislike
What natural event does the Demeter myth explain?
The seasons
Why does Demeter refuse to let crops grow?
To force Zeus to act
What is Polyphemus unable to see after Odysseus escapes?
Answer: He is blind in one eye
How do Odysseus and his men escape Polyphemus’s cave?
By hiding under sheep
What does sojourn mean
A temporary stay
What theme is shown by Odysseus revealing his name?
Pride can lead to consequences
Why does Hades give Persephone gifts?
He wants her approval and affection
What role does Hermes play in Persephone’s story?
He is the messenger who brings Persephone back
What happens to the earth while Demeter is grieving?
Nothing grows; crops die
Why is Hade's kidnapping of Persephone considered abrupt?
Because it was sudden and forceful
What theme is revealed by Odysseus using clever tricks instead of strength?
Intelligence can be more powerful than strength
Why does Persephone continue to act cold toward Hades even when he treats her kindly?
She wants him to continue trying to give her gifts
Why is Hades considered a powerful god even though he rules the underworld?
He controls death and vast riches beneath the earth
Why does Odysseus shout his real name to Polyphemus after escaping?
Pride and desire for recognition
It emphasizes deep grief
Why doesn't Zeus side with Demeter at first?
He received a bribe from Hades
How does Odysseus’s leadership both save and endanger his crew?
His cleverness saves them, but his pride puts them at risk
Who gave the box to Pandora?
Zeus
How does a single choice by Persephone permanently change the natural world?
Eating the seeds forces her to leave her mother, creating the seasons.
Why does the author use dark imagery when describing the underworld?
To emphasize the hopelessness and despair
How do both myths show that power does not always mean happiness?
Powerful characters (Demeter, Hades, Zeus) still suffer loss or conflict
Why do these myths remain relevant to readers today?
They still have strong lessons to teach!