Vocabulary 1
Define the word "bizarre."
Strange, unusual, out of the ordinary
Define the word "sacrifice."
offering, giving up (often to one's own detriment)
Why does the author begin with the story of Kleomedes?
A. To shock the reader and immediately show how violent and bizarre ancient myths can be
B. To provide a real historical example that illustrates the gap between modern ideas of heroism and ancient Greek concepts of heroism
C. To argue that Kleomedes was the most important hero of ancient Greece
B. To provide a real historical example that illustrates the gap between modern ideas of heroism and ancient Greek concepts of heroism
Which statement best expresses a central idea of the passage?
A. Greek myths were written to teach children moral lessons.
B. Ancient Greek heroes were admired for their moral purity and compassion.
C. Ancient Greek heroism focused on extraordinary power and impact rather than moral goodness.
D. Modern readers should avoid studying Greek mythology because of its violence.
C. Ancient Greek heroism focused on extraordinary power and impact rather than moral goodness.
"Therefore war, like boxing or racing..."
Simile
Define the word "volatile."
unpredictable, quick to anger
Define the word "vengeful."
seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury
Why does the author describe Greek culture as being driven by competition?
A. To argue that ancient Greeks did not care about community values
B. To highlight the importance of sports in modern society
C. To explain why heroes were expected to prove themselves through contests, warfare, or dangerous feats
C. To explain why heroes were expected to prove themselves through contests, warfare, or dangerous feats
What is the author’s main purpose in contrasting ancient Greek heroism with modern ideas of heroism?
A. To show that ancient Greek culture was morally superior to modern society
B. To argue that modern definitions of heroism should replace ancient ones
C. To highlight how dramatically the meaning of “hero” has changed over time and challenge readers’ assumptions
D. To criticize students for misunderstanding mythology
C. To highlight how dramatically the meaning of “hero” has changed over time and challenge readers’ assumptions
"Aside from the occasional weaving contest (looking at you, Arachne)"
Allusion
Define the word "shrine."
a place regarded as holy, divine, or sacred
Define the word "benevolent."
kind, warm, positive
Why does the author explain that heroes were given shrines and sacrifices similar to gods?
A. To prove that ancient Greeks valued heroes more than actual gods
B. To suggest that heroes were worshipped only because they were morally pure
C. To show that the Greeks viewed heroes as powerful, divine-associated figures whose behavior did not need to be morally good
D. To argue that heroes were primarily political figures rather than religious ones
C. To show that the Greeks viewed heroes as powerful, divine-associated figures whose behavior did not need to be morally good
Based on the passage, what can the reader infer about why the Greeks continued to honor heroes who behaved violently?
A. They feared punishment if they did not offer sacrifices.
B. They believed heroes were reflections of divine power and could help or harm the community.
C. They wanted to ignore the negative parts of myths to protect younger generations.
D. They believed only violent men were worthy of becoming heroes.
B. They believed heroes were reflections of divine power and could help or harm the community.
But what happens when these heroes fail?
Rhetorical question
Define the word "penance."
voluntary self-punishment, atonement, repentance
Define the word "titular."
holding/denoting a title
What is the author’s primary purpose in discussing violent actions committed by heroes like Herakles, Ajax, Achilles, and Odysseus?
A. To argue that ancient Greek society admired violence more than any other culture
B. To show that violence was common in ancient myths and therefore should not be taken seriously
C. To illustrate that extreme, sometimes dangerous behavior was an accepted aspect of ancient Greek heroism
D. To criticize Greek mythology for promoting immoral characters
C. To illustrate that extreme, sometimes dangerous behavior was an accepted aspect of ancient Greek heroism
How does the author structure the passage to develop her argument?
A. By listing every violent act committed by Greek heroes in chronological order
B. By combining historical examples, mythological references, and cultural explanation to show how Greek heroism functioned
C. By retelling a single myth in great detail
D. By using only modern examples of heroism as contrast
B. By combining historical examples, mythological references, and cultural explanation to show how Greek heroism functioned
"Benevolent beings"
Alliteration
Define the word "hubris."
excessvie pride or arrogance
Define the word "capricious."
fickle, unpredictable, impulsive
What purpose does the author achieve by explaining how heroes react when their honor is damaged?
A. To show that most Greek heroes were actually villains
B. To argue that pride was the only value in ancient Greece
C. To compare ancient heroes directly to modern celebrities
D. To demonstrate that the destructive behavior of heroes follows a recognizable pattern rooted in honor and ego
D. To demonstrate that the destructive behavior of heroes follows a recognizable pattern rooted in honor and ego
How does the author’s use of patterned examples most strongly support her overall claim?
A. It proves that all Greek heroes were based on the same historical individual.
B. It shows that ancient Greek audiences felt equally sympathetic toward every hero.
C. It suggests that Greek storytellers exaggerated all heroic deeds for dramatic effect.
D. It emphasizes that the destructive behavior of heroes was so common that it formed a recognizable cultural model, not isolated incidents.
D. It emphasizes that the destructive behavior of heroes was so common that it formed a recognizable cultural model, not isolated incidents.
"Slaying the unslayable, or hunting the unhuntable"
Juxtaposition / oxymoron