Greek Myths
Mythical Creatures
Korean Legends
Fictional and Folk Heroes
In Popular Culture
100
What weapon is the symbol of the Greek God of the Sea?
A trident
100
What creature has the head of a bull and the body of a man? It lived in a maze called the Labyrinth.
The Minotaur
100
In the founding myth of Korea, what were the lion and the bear supposed to eat in order to become human?
Garlic and Mugwort
100
In English mythology (from England, not America), who stole from the rich and gave to the poor?
Robin Hood
100
In Harry Potter, the three-headed dog Fluffy is based on what creature?
Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the Underworld.
200
How many tasks did Hercules perform?
Twelve (Can you name them?)
200
A creature transformed from an inanimate object, sometimes rock. It carries a club that it uses to cast magic spells.
The dokkaebi
200
The first king of Gaya was born from what?
An egg that descended from heaven.
200
Who was the historical source for the fictional character Hong Gil Dong?
Im Kkeokjeong, who led was the leader of a peasant rebellion in Hwanghae Province in 1559-1562.
200
What are three movies, television series, or video games that feature the gumiho, or Nine-Tailed Fox?
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Gu Family Book, League of Legends (Ahri),
300
Who brought fire to mankind?
The Titan Prometheus. (Bonus: What was his punishment?)
300
A creature with a lion's body and the head of a human that loves riddles.
The Sphynx
300
What is the name of a famous pansori in which the daughter of a kisaeng marries the son of a magistrate?
Chunhyangga. The Legend of Chun Hyang has also been adapted many times in literature and television.
300
Can you name four of the knights of King Arthur's Round Table?
Sir Gawain, Sir Kai, Sir Lancelot, Sir Bedevere, Sir Galahad, and more.
300
Who wrote the original classic vampire novel, Dracula?
Bram Stoker.
400
What Greek myth is the source of the English word "narcissism?" Describe it in one or two sentences.
The myth of Narcissus. In one version, he sees a reflection of himself in a lake and is enchanted by his own beauty. But because he cannot obtain the object of his desire, he dies of sorrow.
400
According to Native American legends, it is a cannibalistic creature that was once human. It hunts unsuspecting humans in the woods and devours them.
The Wendigo
400
In one Korean folktale, a mother was bringing rice cakes home to her children. Unfortunately, she was eaten by a tiger. The tiger tried to eat the children too, but they escaped by asking for a rope from the heavens. What happened to the children?
The brother became the moon, and the sister, who was shy, became the sun, and now people have to turn away from her because she is so bright and beautiful.
400
A fictional hero who defended the people of California against corrupt Spanish officials.
Zorro. (Do you know what the name means?)
400
Which Marvel Comics characters are based on Norse mythology?
Thor, Loki and Odin.
500
What is the story of Pandora's Box? Tell it in 2 or 3 sentences.
Pandora was the first woman on Earth, created by Hephaestus and given many gifts. Pandora eventually opens a jar that contains all the evils of the world, like famine and disease. Only one thing remained at the bottom of the jar: Hope.
500
What is the chimera?
A monster that looks like a lion, with the head of a goat rising from its back, and a tail that ends in a snake's head.
500
In a story about a blind man's daughter, how does the daughter raise the sacks of rice to save her father from debt?
She agrees to sacrifice herself to the Dragon King of the seas.
500
Who was Paul Revere?
Paul Revere warned the people of Lexington and Concord that the British were coming, at the start of the Revolutionary War. He evaded British troops and helped the American militia prepare for the battle. His story is the origin of the famous phrase, "1 if by land, 2 if by sea."
500
In the popular Percy Jackson series, which learning disabilities are supposed to indicate that a Greek God is your ancestor?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. The author of Percy Jackson originally wrote the first book to get his son, who has ADHD, interested in reading.