MYTH NARRATIVEFinal project for The Odyssey

Purpose• To write a short myth using the elements of mythology as

used in The Odyssey• To demonstrate understanding of plot structure and

characterization• To demonstrate an understanding about cultural values

that are important in OUR culture• To have some fun telling an original story about Greek

gods and heroes

REQUIRED ELEMENTS

Invocation

• Begin your myth with an invocation to your Muse.

• Ask for help

• Give hints about the plot of the story

• Briefly mention the main character and the conflict he/she faces

• Include some idea of the important values contained in the myth

HELPFUL HINT: Review the invocation at the beginning of The Odyssey to see how Homer did it

Plot elements

• Exposition: Background information

• Setting – must be set in ancient Greek times

• Characters – ordinary people, heroes, gods, etc.

• Conflict

• Rising Action/complications

• Climax (the BIG SCENE)

• Falling Action

• Resolution of the conflict

• Can be a happy ending or not

Characters• Protagonist can be YOU

as • Ordinary person• Demi-god• God or goddess

• Antagonist(s)• Monsters• Gods/Goddesses• Threshold Guardian• Traitors

• Helpers• Best friend• Protector god or goddess• Mentor• Family members

• The Hero must demonstrate HEROIC characteristics!

• He/she must embody the characteristics OUR culture believes are heroic.

Sample Myth plots: the Heroic Journey

• Protagonist is given a task• He/she undertakes a journey of some kind to complete

the task• He/she encounters difficulties along the way:

• Monsters • Threshold Guardian• Angry gods/goddesses• “Fatal flaw”

• He/she is given help by a Mentor• He/she completes the task and returns to where he/she

started, smarter/richer/kinder

Sample Heroic Tasks

• Retrieve something• Magic object (Lord of the Rings)• Important information (Land of the Dead)• A person (Shrek)

• Fight something to save something/someone• A monster guarding a treasure or a person (Perseus,

Shrek)• A villain threatening home, family, life (Odysseus and

the Suitors)• An “evil something” inside the hero that makes him/her

to do wrong

Sample Myth plots: the Origin Myth

• Plot describes how a natural phenomena came to be – the origin of• A kind of animal• A characteristic of an animal• A kind of plant (must be important to humans!)• A recurring natural event such as sunrise, seasons

changing, the tides, the cycles of the moon, etc.

• Plot explains how/why this phenomena came to be• Protagonist can be human, demi-god or god

Sample Myth plots: When bad things happen

• Plot details something very bad that happened and/or how the hero made it okay again• Humans in trouble, god saves them (Prometheus)• A god makes a mistake and then has to fix it• Someone insults a god and pays a big price

• There must be a lesson learned in this kind of myth – bad things happen for a reason!

Format• 500 to 2,000 words• Can be handwritten (must be readable)• Can be typed (bonus for typing)• Standard format: NO FANCY FONTS!

• Times New Roman 12 pt• Double-spaced• One-inch margins• Indented paragraphs• Must have a title!

• NO Illustrations! Do not include pictures in your myth

Deadline

•Wednesday, February 6

• This is the FIRST grade of the new semester!