Ingredients to an Origin MythPRESENTATION CREATED BY, MS. JENNIFER DUKE

Checklist of Ingredients for an Origin Myth1. You must include at least 4 of the Greek Gods

or Goddesses in your story.

2. An interesting setting

3. A mythical creature (e.g. Unicorn, Pegasus, Flying horse, Golden-Haired Ram, Three-Headed Dog, a Gigantic Lion)

4. A problem and a detailed description of the struggle to solve the problem.

5. A good ending that solves the problem and tells how something comes to be (i.e. the origin of something).

Include At Least 4 Greek Gods or Goddesses

Some Gods or Goddesses that you might like to use include the following:

Zeus-----------------------------King of Gods; Sky; Weather

Apollo--------------------------The Sun; Youth; Music; Archery; Healing; Prophecy

Artemis-------------------------Twin Sister of Apollo; The Moon; Hunting

Hades--------------------------King of the Underworld

Poseidon----------------------Ruler of The Seas

Hera----------------------------Wife of Zeus; Queen of Gods; Women; Marriage

Dionysus-----------------------Wine; Fertility; Music

Athena-------------------------Wisdom; War; Crafts

Hephaestus-------------------Craftsman for the Gods; Fire

Hermes-------------------------Messenger God; Secrets; Tricks

Demeter-----------------------Agriculture; Earth; Corn

Persephone------------------Daughter of Demeter; Queen of Hades

An Interesting Setting

When does the story take place? (i.e. 900 BC) Where does the story take place? (i.e.

Ancient Greece) Does your story provide details that catch your

interest and set the mood of the story? Describe the setting in detail. What do you

see, hear, taste, touch, and smell?

A Mythical Creature

What does your mythical creature look like? How does your mythical creature behave? Does your story give a detailed description of

the creature?

Examples of mythical creatures: Unicorn, Centaur, Minotaur, Pegasus, Flying horse, Golden-Haired Ram, Three-Headed Dog, a Gigantic Lion

A Detailed Description of the Struggle to Solve the Problem

Does your story have a hero? Is your hero one of the Greek gods or goddesses? How is the mythical creature involved in your story? Is

it a good creature or a bad creature? Is there some type of a journey in your story? What is the conflict of the story? What are your Greek gods’ and goddesses’ special

powers? How do they use those special powers in the story?

A Good EndingHow is the problem in your story solved?Does the hero in your story receive a

reward? If so, what is it?What item “comes to be” in your story?

(You have to tell the origin of something).

Examples: The Origin of Cheese

The Origin of Bubble Gum

The Origin of Cell Phones

The Origin of Shoes

Brainstorming

Now, you need to brainstorm ideas for your Origin Myth that you are going to write. Write down your ideas on your Note Guide.