CLCV 2000 Classical Mythology Theseus

I. Theseus (pp. 96-98, 136-146) A. The line of Agenor 1. Zeus and Europa 2. Sons of Europa: Minos, Sarpedon, Rhadamanthys 3. Sons quarrel over Miletos 4. Minos and Pasiphae 5. Pasiphae and the Minotaur B. The birth of Theseus 1. Aigeus, ruler of Athens, sleeps with Aithra 2. Aithra gives birth to Theseus in secret (sword and sandals under the rock) C. Theseus’s early exploits; he kills the following: 1. Periphetes/Corynetes, the Club-Man 2. Sinis/Pityocamptes, the Pine-Bender 3. Crommyon, the sow 4. Sceiron, who kicked people into the sea to be eaten by a turtle 5. Cercyon, the wrestler 6. Damastes/Polypemon, who fit people to his bed C. Theseus finds his father 1. Medea schemes against Theseus and Aigeus sends Theseus to kill the bull of Marathon (p. 77 for the origin of the bull) 2. Aigeus almost poisons Theseus but recognizes him at the last second 3. Medea banished D. Theseus and the Minotaur 1. Theseus sails to Crete to face the Minotaur (pp. 97f. for the origin of the Minotaur and the story of Pasiphae) 2. Aigeus’ command to use the sails as a homecoming sign 3. Ariadne, daughter of Minos, falls in love with Theseus. She gives Theseus a thread, which he uses to trace his path in the Labyrinth 4. On their return, Theseus and Ariadne stop at Naxos, where Ariadne is carried off by Dionysus 5. Theseus is upset and forgets to hang the white sails; Aigeus jumps off a cliff 6. Theseus assumes sole power in Athens E. Minos’ revenge 1. Minos punishes Daidalos by enclosing him and his son, Icaros, in the Labyrinth 2. They escape after Daidalos fashions wings, but Icaros flies too close to the sun and dies 3. Minos pursues Daidalos to the court of Cocalos in Sicily, where he finds him by offering a reward to the man who can draw a thread through a spiral shell 4. The daughters of Cocalos kill Minos F. Theseus accompanies Heracles on an expedition against the Amazons 1. Theseus has a son, Hippolytos, by an Amazon 2. Phaedra and Hippolytos G. The End 1. Ixion 2. Theseus and Peirithoos in Hades 3. Theseus driven out of power by Menestheus, killed in Sicily by Lycomedes

1 CLCV 2000/ENGL 2007 Classical Mythology: Midterm Exam Review Guide

The final exam covers material listed on the syllabus from September to December. It is a 2 hour exam. The midterm is made up of four parts.

1. The first part contains 105 multiple choice questions. These questions cover all the material from the term. You should know the basic plots of works read for class, major characters, and a variety of information about the social and historical background of ancient mythology. 2. The second part, questions 106-140, are matching. You are asked to correctly identify certain characteristics of the Olympian gods. 3. In the third part, questions 148-161, you must list the Labors of Heracles and correctly identify the two labors that were judged not to fulfill the conditions of his servitude. For example, “Nemean Lion” would be one correct answer. “Lion” would be worth a half point. Spelling should be accurate. The Labors do not have to be given in order of their performance. 4. The final part, points 162-200, consists of 13 passages from the Iliad. You are asked to identify the character who spoke each passage. Each passage is worth 3 points.

I suggest that the best way to study for the final is to review the course notes, which are posted on the Greek and Roman Studies webpage under ‘Courses’ (where the course outline is also posted, http://carleton.ca/chum/greek-and-roman-studies/courses/), and then to familiarize yourself as best as you can with the readings. That may mean reading or re-reading some of the works you are less familiar with.

I construct the multiple choice section of the exam by looking through the notes and creating questions from them. It might help for you to do the same. Pretend you are an evil professor rummaging through the notes. What multiple choice questions would you construct? Chances are they would be similar to the questions I’ve constructed.

I construct the passage identification section by selecting speeches that I feel clearly identify their speakers. In each passage there are clues that indicate who is speaking. I haven’t chosen obscure characters for this section. For example, here is a passage I consider perhaps of medium difficulty to identify (no, it is not going to appear on the exam):

Father Zeus, if ever before in word or action I did you favour among the immortals, now grant what I ask for. Now give honour to my son short-lived beyond all other mortals. Since even now the lord of men Agamemnon dishonours him, who has taken away his prize and keeps it.

You should be able to recognize that the speaker is a parent of Achilles and probably an immortal (“among the immortals”). If you answer “Thetis” you are correct, if you answer “mother of Achilles” that would probably get you half credit.

The exam is at 7 pm on December 13 in Alumni Hall (Raven’s Nest). Good luck!!!

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