Teaching Mythology

[RobinL in Canada]

A little while back, I posted to ask for suggestions re teaching a Mythology course at my high school co-op. The students there know their Bibles pretty well, but when it comes to classical allusions, they're lost. I received a few suggestions for books which I am checking out. However, the teaching materials I have so far acquired seem to focus on basic recall-type questions and quizzes. Would anyone have any suggestions for more creative ways to teach Mythology, including assignments? If you were teaching Mythology, how would you do it?

[Dmmetler]

I had a much younger group, but what I did last year was to give a general topic for each session, and each child needed to pick a subtopic and present it, in whatever way they saw fit. We had costumed characters explaining themselves in context, art projects, decorated pumpkins, powerpoint presentations, lectures that probably would still be going on if I hadn't called time, lego dioramas, skits, and probably more that I'm forgetting.

 

We also did a readers' theater version of the Iliad as a group-Scholastic had it as a $1 e-book, on about a middle school reading level. Something like that might be a good follow up from reading a more complete version of the text-either read the pre-done one, or write your own that's more authentic.

[regentrude]

I would give pre-class reading assignments and use the class time for discussions about the stories and the symbolism.

If these are older high schoolers, I'd go into some analysis of the symbolism - but not with younger ones.

For assignments, I would let students choose their own writing assignment topics, or topics for an oral presentation.

I would also look at mythology portrayed in art and music, look at literature adaptations and influence in popular culture. Maybe include a field trip to an art museum and look for mythological subjects, if that is feasible in your city.

As a culmination, you could have the entire group participate in the National Mythology exam, or, if they are more advanced/older, in the Medusa exam.

 

I would not want to use any worksheets and quizzes - to me that is boring busy work.

[RobinL in Canada]

Would anyone have suggestions for specific modern/ contemporary/ popular lit or art to include (keeping in mind that parents will *not* want me showing the kids nude sculpture/ paintings)? I was thinking of reading Lewis's Till We Have Faces at the end, but we may not have enough time.

[Rosie_0801]

Easily acquired art would be mythological themed Tarot cards, but I doubt their parents would approve of that either. An example: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/mythic-oracle/

[PeterPan]

You could also look at Mythology and More, since it does what you're wanting. I got it to use with my dd this coming year.

[RobinL in Canada]

Easily acquired art would be mythological themed Tarot cards, but I doubt their parents would approve of that either. An example: http://www.aeclectic.../mythic-oracle/

 

Thanks but no, we are a Christian group.

[RobinL in Canada]

You could also look at Mythology and More, since it does what you're wanting. I got it to use with my dd this coming year.

 

Yes, someone already mentioned that on my previous thread, but as I replied, the ebook is not currently available (and the TM isn't available as an ebook at all). The shipping for the hard copies is far too expensive to Canada.

[Rosie_0801]

Thanks but no, we are a Christian group.

 

The deck I linked isn't a Tarot deck and while there are plenty of Christian Tarot readers, I understand the need to stay on the safe side. However, they are merely pieces of art if all you are doing is looking at them.

 

Unfortunately if you want modern mythological art, you'll find most of it in the hands of neo-pagans, and decks of cards are the cheapest ways to acquire them. The deck I linked will give you 45 pieces of contemporary, mythological art for less than ten dollars if you buy second hand, plus postage. You don't even have to look at the accompanying book that provides information on how to read with them. Throw it away, and there'll be no slippery slope, just some cards with relevant pictures on them.

 

If anyone is going to have any ideas where you look for modern mythological art that couldn't be perceived to be anti-Christian or anything, it'd be KarenNC. Unless picture books will do the trick, and there ought to be plenty in your local library.

[PeterPan]

Yes, someone already mentioned that on my previous thread, but as I replied, the ebook is not currently available (and the TM isn't available as an ebook at all). The shipping for the hard copies is far too expensive to Canada.

 

 

Oh sorry, I'm a dingbat and forget things. :) Well did you see the ebook version of it here? Only $17. Seems like a super deal. I haven't gone through mine yet with a fine tooth comb to schedule, but it looks good. https://play.google....id=5o3Lr2Swz8sC and http://www.bolchazy.com/prod.php?cat=latin&id=5734

[KarenNC]

You could also look at Mythology and More, since it does what you're wanting. I got it to use with my dd this coming year.

 

 

This does have photos/drawings of artwork that includes nudes. I have a copy in hand that I'm starting with my daughter this coming week.

 

Rick Riordan's website has teaching materials to go along with his Percy Jackson series http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx and, more particularly, http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/welcome-to-camp-half-blood.aspx and http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/resources/teachers-guide.aspx

 

There is, of course, a ton of public art with Classical themes, as well as references in modern culture. Wikipedia (yes, I know, but it's a good starting point for something like this) has a page on Greek mythology in popular culture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology_in_popular_culture . You could look at the connections between Shakespeare and Classical mythology, particularly in Ovid's Metamorphoses.

 

Are you planning to have your students participate in the National Mythology Exam and the Medusa Exam?

 

For your own use prior to this, I would *highly* recommend Elisabeth Vandiver's lecture on Classical Mythology through The Teaching Company. Excellent with fabulous insights. If that is not affordable (it's frequently on sale, but prohibitively expensive if not), Coursera has a course on Greek and Roman mythology starting on April 22. https://www.coursera.org/course/mythology Since it hasn't started yet, I can't vouch for the lecture style or content.

[KarenNC]

More resources:

 

Mythweb lesson plans and activities http://www.mythweb.com/teachers/tips/moretips.html

Mythology Teacher website http://www.mythologyteacher.com/

Shmoop has a fun site for Classical mythology http://www.shmoop.com/mythology/ My daughter thinks it's fun

[Candid]

Well a good background book like Hamilton's Mythology is where I would start, but then I'd read the real literature and see the mythology in context. The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid and lots of Greek drama.

[RobinL in Canada]

This does have photos/drawings of artwork that includes nudes. I have a copy in hand that I'm starting with my daughter this coming week.

 

Rick Riordan's website has teaching materials to go along with his Percy Jackson series http://www.rickriord.../home.aspx��and, more particularly, http://www.rickriord...half-blood.aspx and http://www.rickriord...hers-guide.aspx

 

There is, of course, a ton of public art with Classical themes, as well as references in modern culture. Wikipedia (yes, I know, but it's a good starting point for something like this) has a page on Greek mythology in popular culture http://en.wikipedia....popular_culture . You could look at the connections between Shakespeare and Classical mythology, particularly in Ovid's Metamorphoses.

 

Are you planning to have your students participate in the National Mythology Exam and the Medusa Exam?

 

For your own use prior to this, I would *highly* recommend Elisabeth Vandiver's lecture on Classical Mythology through The Teaching Company. Excellent with fabulous insights. If that is not affordable (it's frequently on sale, but prohibitively expensive if not), Coursera has a course on Greek and Roman mythology starting on April 22. https://www.coursera...ourse/mythology Since it hasn't started yet, I can't vouch for the lecture style or content.

 

Yes, I have and love Vandiver's Mytholgoy (and Homer, etc) lectures; will make use of info from those. I have no problem with nudes in art, but some families will, so I will need to be cautious. We only have 12 weeks of classes, so I will not be able to cover everything! Any ideas for creative assignments (beyond essays)?

[RobinL in Canada]

Well a good background book like Hamilton's Mythology is where I would start, but then I'd read the real literature and see the mythology in context. The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid and lots of Greek drama.

 

Not enough time, alas! And much would be beyond many of these kids.

[PeterPan]

Those links from Karen had FABULOUS projects. I just got done going through them, and I have so many ideas my mind is popping, lol. What's interesting for your situation is that they were largely teacher projects, things where you might assign a general project to the class and each student picks a different myth or character to do it on. Definitely enough there to keep you busy. I'm thinking this is going to burn most of the year for us.

[PeterPan]

This is a wikipedia page with links to art by myth. Might give you more options.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Paintings_depicting_Greek_myths

[swimmermom3]

The Return of Odysseus by Pintoricchio

The Return of Odysseus to His Home by Fyodor Bronnikov

The Return of Ulysses by Giorgio de Chirico

 

Many of the Greek myths are depicted on ancient Greek amphoras which of course have nude mythological figures. To me it's very difficult to discuss the art that mythology inspires, but avoid all nudity especially for high school. We saw an exhibit a few months ago at our museum that featured several of the ancient Greek amphoras. They were exquisite and mostly featured scenes from mythology. I thought how delightful it would have been to use those as everyday objects.

 

Icarus by Henri Matisse

[Guest bhbonds]

I have a semester curriculum with examples of projects and a syllabus here:

 

http://npclassics.weebly.com/mr-bondss-mythology-class.html

 

Hopefully that will be of some use to anyone who comes with similar questions.

[Julie in MN]

I'm not fond of recall-type questions, but I probably used that kind of thing more with mythology than with anything else.  Maybe it was my particular son, but he just misinterpreted or plain old missed so much without my stopping and going over questions VERY frequently.  I mean, he might know who Achilles was, but might miss what country he was in, what country he was from, what country he was fighting against, no clue who Patroclus was, totally miss the Zeus/Hera goings-on, etc etc.  If he had to do a project, he might do it on Achilles and the teacher might never realize he thought Achilles was from Rome or something.  Even with shorter myths, he might miss the very details that a myth is most known for.  And I'm not sure a lot of other kids I've worked with would do a lot better.  Of course, you may be blessed with an ambitious group of real literature readers.  Or, you could follow up each presentation with your own bullet points. I guess I'm just posting as a caution that you might lose some kids if you do too many projects and too little discussion/questions/detail in some form. 

 

Julie

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Don't know if this would suit the class, but a project I read about long ago had students reading about Odysseus and then writing a modern homegoing epic.

 

Each student took turns spinning a globe and then stopping it with their finger on a point in order to choose the location they would write about. They had to pick up where they last person had been writing, write an adventure for their locale and then get him on his way again (to be picked up by the next writer).

 

 

[Kfamily]

My older daughter is currently reading Age of Fable (Bulfinch) and I've been creating Book Notes for the chapters. I think I have the first 18 chapters, so far. I do intend to finish the book and will be adding chapters every week or so. I have paintings linked for many of the chapters to connect art with mythology.

 

 

 

For some reason, the I cannot get the link to attach here. The notes are at my blog (A Mind in the Light) and then under Book Notes. The notes for Age of Fable can be found by scrolling down a bit. :)

 

Here it is:

 

http://amindinthelight.blogspot.com/p/book-notes.html