The Titans and the Gods
Who were the gods’ main enemies before humanity was created?
Titans
Who shaped the first humans?
Prometheus.
What animal did Prometheus use in his trick sacrifice to Zeus?
A bull.
What was Prometheus’s punishment?
He was chained to a cliff and had his liver eaten daily by a vulture
Who wrote Prometheus Unbound?
Percy Bysshe Shelley.
What happened to most of the Titans after their defeat?
They were destroyed or sent to Tartarus.
What did Epimetheus give to animals?
Gifts such as flight, claws, fur, scales, and swimming abilities.
How did Prometheus disguise the edible parts of the sacrifice?
He hid the flesh and skin under the animal’s belly.
Why was his punishment endless?
His liver regrew each night, so the torture repeated every day.
How did Shelley portray Prometheus?
As a romantic hero who spreads empathy and knowledge.
Why did Prometheus and Epimetheus fight on the side of the gods?
Prometheus persuaded his brother to join the gods
Why were humans considered weaker than animals at first?
Zeus decreed they would remain mortal and without special gifts.
What was Zeus’s reaction when he realized he was tricked?
He was furious and forbade the use of fire on Earth.
Why did Prometheus not regret his actions?
He valued human progress and empowerment over his own suffering.
How did Mary Shelley use the Prometheus myth in her novel Frankenstein?
She subtitled it The Modern Prometheus to warn about the dangers of corrupting nature through science.
Why might Zeus have trusted Prometheus and Epimetheus with creating living beings?
Because Prometheus had foresight and had shown loyalty in the war.
How does Prometheus’s foresight differ from Epimetheus’s actions during creation?
Prometheus planned for humanity’s future purpose, while Epimetheus distributed gifts impulsively without foresight.
How did Prometheus smuggle fire down to humans?
In a hollow fennel stalk.
How does Prometheus’s punishment symbolize rebellion against oppression?
It shows the high cost of defying authority but also the endurance of resistance for a noble cause.
Why is Prometheus still relevant in modern debates about science and technology?
His story raises questions about human innovation, responsibility, and the consequences of altering nature.
How does the gods’ victory over the Titans set the stage for human dependence on divine authority?
It established the gods’ supreme power, making humans subject to their control and punishment.
What does the creation story suggest about the Greek view of humanity’s place in the natural order?
Humans were fragile and dependent, but with potential to rise above nature through intelligence and divine rebellion.
Why is Prometheus’s theft of fire considered both a blessing and a danger for humanity?
It gave humans warmth, food, and technology, but also the power to make weapons and wage war.
In what ways does Prometheus embody both suffering and resilience, making him a model for human endurance?
His pain represents sacrifice for others, while his unbroken spirit makes him a timeless symbol of courage and resistance.
How does Prometheus serve as both a hero of progress and a cautionary figure in art, literature, and ethics?
He inspires admiration for empowering humanity, yet also warns about the risks of pride, rebellion, and misuse of knowledge.