The myth of the divine mother and daughter, demeter and persephone, is told in the homeric hymn to demeter. The myth of persephone, demeter, and hades takes place in two locations that couldnt be more different. Like her mother, she was kind and caring, with a happy nature and the most dazzling smile. Discuss the adventures of demeter and persephone by starting with this engaging play for the entire class. This week joyce tye will introduce a discussion of the myth of demeter and persephone, offering a jungian interpretation. The result was the birth of persephone, demeters only daughter. The myth of hades and persephone is one more myth of love and abduction in the greek mythology. The story of demeter and persephone was perhaps symbolic of the changing seasons and the perennial change from life to death, to life once more, or in other words, the changes from summer to winter and the return of life in spring as seen in agriculture. Students will create original myths explaining why the seasons change. Jul 29, 2016 definitely captures the spirit of the persephone myth in jenny and julian. Myth fiction 664 words, level n grade 2, lexile 630l. The first three chapters provide a summary of the homeric story and examine the myth from. She saw man and woman, god and goddess dancing to her tune. A womens tradition, which treats the nineteenthcentury realists, this work analyzes the writing of major women writers of the early twentieth centuryedith.
Such stories serve as a doorway to enter the world of the ancient greeks and romans. However, as stories are told again and again over the course of time, they pass through many minds and memories, and can change their shapes like a living thing. Persephone, which represents the various interpretations of the myth over the ages. Persephone and hades transcript to printdownload pdf. Greek mythology has probably always been my favorite mythology, and this might be my favorite stories of all time. When persephone is in the underworld with hades, demeter refuses to let any plants grow. Reloaded, we are exposed to persephone who is a docile queen of the underworld that. Demeter was loved by all humans for her gift of soil and gentle, mild weather to grow their crops. Because zeus betrayed her by his involvement in the rape of persephone, demeter left mt. According to an ancient greek myth, persephone was the daughter of demeter, the. Demeter and persephone by julianah oguntala on prezi. Zeus, realizing that something must be done, arranges for.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Persephone and demeter day 5 key idea persephone, daughter of the goddess demeter, is kidnapped by hades, god of the underworld, to be his bride. Dionysus was the twiceborn god, some say thriceborn, and the story of his life starts. He would steal her innocence and virginity and turn her into his dreaded queen. The goddess was now in charge of greeting the new arrivals and helping them adapt to. The myth about demeter and persephone is featured in the book entitled the story of demeter and persephone is featured in the book entitled a handbook of greek and roman mythology. One day while persephone was gathering flowers, hades, god of the underworld, captured her. She had adjusted well to her new position, saying she had even found her calling.
As we discuss the myth, lets paraphrase, or tell in our own words, what happens to demeter and persephone in these pages. Text only version of demeter and her daughter persephone. The classical greek myth of demeter and her daughter persephone as told in homer s hymn to demeter has been used most often to explain the cycle of the seasons. I feel sorry for persephone because she was disturbed by the god of the under world and she never expected it. She becomes the queen of the underworld through her abduction by hades, the god of the underworld.
In the myth pluto abducts persephone to be his wife and the queen of his realm this is the myth which explains their marriage. The myth of persephone, hades, and demeter goalbook. The third of the year, when persephone is down in the underworld with hades, we have winter and no growth of crops, as demeter is unhappy and. Iliad portrays demeter and her daughter persephone as the lesser goddesses, where demeter is sketched as the goddess of fertility, corn, harvest and mother earth, where she ruled over the areas including fertility, growth, wisdom, and bloom of the crops, fruits and vegetables. On the tenth day, the sungod helius, who had seen everything. I should warn you that this is a feminst perspective on the myth that uses outside references such as the bible and other selfhelp books to interpret the myth and give it meaning to modern day readers. Feb 09, 2016 this week joyce tye will introduce a discussion of the myth of demeter and persephone, offering a jungian interpretation. Jung, myths provided not only an explanation for the events of nature, but also a way of making sense. Demeter and persephone bibliography plot graph rising action climax as a result, we now have different seasons. Zeus asks pluto to release persephone as long as she has not eaten any food in the underworld. Persephone was the olympian goddess of agriculture, the harvest and the seasons, for it was her emergence from the underworld that allowed crops to grow once again.
The underworld holds the deepest secrets and is a prime concern of the soul. Mariana, someone at a distance, the victorian chaiselongue, the homemaker, good evening, mrs craven, saplings, they knew mr knight, miss pettigrew lives for a day, family roundabout, little boy lost, the making of a marchioness, the far cry, manja, the priory, the blank wall, miss ranskill comes home, the world that was ours, they were sisters, the. The earliest written record of the demeter and persephone myth in the greek language comes from the eighth century b. Ive been told this is a common phenomenon in publishing. Spring held hostage a greek myth graphic myths and legends. She was a dual deity, since, in addition to presiding over the dead with intriguing autonomy, as the daughter of demeter, she was also a goddess of fertility. At the beginning of demeter and persephone, what causes the earth to shake.
Relationship between parent and child in the story of demeter and persephone we learn about the relationship between parents and their children. They played together in the fields almost every day. The most important mythology surrounding demeter was the story of the rape of her daughter persephone also known as kore in greek and. She was the daughter of demeter, goddess of the harvest, and her mother loved her so dearly she could not bear to have her out of her sight. Demeter wandered the earth for days, searching in fear for her only daughter.
Plan your 60minute lesson in english language arts or greek mythology with helpful tips from sara hesemann. In greek mythology, persephone also called kore is the daughter of zeus and demeter. Alien in some respects from the genuine traditions of greek mythology, a relic of the. Demeter and persephone essaysdemeter and persephone. Treasure at the heart of the tanglewood 38 by meredith ann pierce. Because the myth of hades and persephone, sometimes referred to as the abduction or rape of persephone is a love story just not necessarily a happy one. In fact, its demeter that allows the crops to grow that keep humans alive.
The demeterpersephone myth in wharton, cather, and glasgow. Its not a place youd want to go, the land of the dead. Demeter and persephone anne terry white summary the myth demeter and persephone explains earths seasons. No one had any idea where she had gone to or what had happened to her. A greek myth is a retelling of the classic myth about the origin of the seasons.
Persephone was the daughter of demeter, the goddess of nature. She was the sort of person who spread light and happiness wherever she went and so, naturally, she was loved by. Persephone was commonly referred to as goddess of the underworld and queen of the underworld, her role in ancient greece though was much more than simply wife of hades. Griefstricken, demeter ceases caring for earth, which falls into a long, wintry desolation. Literature test 3 persephone and demeter multiple choice identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Greek goddess of the underworld original story and interpretation by laura strong, phd. Best young adult persephone and hades retellings kaitlin bevis. Hecate had heard persephones screams, but could not tell demeter who carried her daughter off.
Demeter cried out immediately to immortal zeus, begging him to remember his sister and the daughter that he had fathered by her. The maiden, persephone, daughter of the earth goddess, demeter, is out picking flowers in a meadow when the earth opens up and out charges hades, god of the underworld. Jung, myths provided not only an explanation for the events of nature, but also a way of making sense of the inner world. Demeter, goddess of the earth and grain, was sister to zeus, as well as poseidon and hades. Demeter is the goddess of agriculture, so shes closely tied to the land of the living. Aspects of the demeterpersephone myth in modern fiction.
This book is a very interesting look at the myth of demeter, persephone, hades and all the people associated with their myth. He wanted to marry her and make her the queen of the underworld. Each year when persephone returns to her mother, demeter rejoices and the earth flowers and produces once again. There are a lot of persephone and hades retellings out there. Recommended for grades 46, younger if already familiar with greek myths. While she wished to see her mother up above, she was torn by her desire to remain hades wife. Well study it in detail, since it will lead us directly to the patron god of theatre, dionysus. Jun 03, 2010 the maiden, persephone, daughter of the earth goddess, demeter, is out picking flowers in a meadow when the earth opens up and out charges hades, god of the underworld. She was very much a hands on and happy to help sort of goddess. Spring held hostage a greek myth graphic myths and legends fontes, justine, fontes, ron, kurth, steve on. Hades and persephone 1 hades and persephone cast demeter goddess of the harvest persephone goddess of springtime hades lord of the underworld hermes messenger god helios god of the sun narrator. In the greek myth of persephones abduction by hades, lord of the underworld, the pomegranate represents life, regeneration, and marriage. Hades was the brother of zeus and the god of the underworld.
Oh, it was true that zeus was the king of all the gods and goddesses, but she controlled the hearts of everything. The myth of hades and persephone is one of the well known greek myths. As time passed, persephone grew into a lovely goddess. Skilled retelling of the myth and the book design makes it feel mature, yet nonintimidating. Pluto takes demeters daughter persephone to his home in the underworld. Lessons from a myth tamara aghajaffar this work demonstrates the continued importance and relevance of the myth of demeter and persephone to todays society. The story of demeter and persephone the wit continuum. Persephone, he found a radiant and striking queen of the dead.
The myth of persephone as interpreted by alicia farnsworth according to greek myth persephone is the daughter of head god, zeus and demeter mother earth, persephone is goddess of spring and helps demeter tend plants. The lovely young maiden, persephone, frolicked with her friends upon the hillside, as her mother demeter sat near by, and her father zeus peered down. Jul 26, 2011 a telling of the myth of demeter and persephone. Critical reading identify the letter of the choice that best answers the question. Best young adult persephone and hades retellings kaitlin. The story of persephone, demeter, and hades is probably one of the most wellknown of greek myths and is used to explain the coming and going of the seasons. Demeter is the mother goddess of the earth and fertility in greek mythology. Part 2 the myth of demeter and persephone 81 no chapter in the history of human imagination is more curious than the myth of demeter, and kore or persephone.
Hence, although a throne on olympus was her birthright, demeter is sometimes not counted among the olympians. Mariana, someone at a distance, the victorian chaiselongue, the homemaker, good evening, mrs craven, saplings, they knew mr knight, miss pettigrew lives for a day, family roundabout, little boy lost, the making of a marchioness, the far cry, manja, the priory, the blank wall, miss ranskill comes home, the world that was. Its also one of the most famous love stories ever told. Demeter was goddess of the earth and all growing things. The story of persephone and her mother is one of the most important in all greek mythology. Download file to see previous pages the same is applied with the demeter and persephone. In this lesson, students will read the greek myth of persephone and demeter and complete a story map on the myth. The goddess was now in charge of greeting the new arrivals and helping them adapt to their new life.
Aphrodite, goddess of love, looked out across creation. The myth of the capture of persephone seems to be pregreek. Demeter and persephone appearing in lolitas character and the events or objects around her. A womens tradition, which treats the nineteenthcentury realists, this work analyzes the writing of major women writers of the early.
Persephone grew up on olympus and her gay laughter rang through the brilliant halls. In ancient greek religion and mythology, demeter is the goddess of the harvest and agriculture. From this gaping crevice in the ground emerged the aweinspiring god of the underworld, hades, and before persephone could even think to utter a word, she was whisked off her feet onto the gods golden chariot. You probably noticed that the myth of persephone, demeter, and hades is an origin story its used to explain the origin of the seasons, and why food crops dont grow in the winter. She made the crops grow each year, but now, that all changed. The myths and legends of ancient greece and rome by e. The cycle became one of the rituals of the sacred eleusinian mysteries. Demeter and the abduction of persephone the rape of. Demeter and persephone, including explicit meaning and inferences they can make and support with details from the text. Hades, lord of the underworld, was smitten with persephone and asked zeus for her hand. Ask them to paraphrase the text to demonstrate their understanding. After the abduction, when persephone is in the underworld, demeter mourns and the earth is unproductive. Persephone was so upset, i couldnt imagine shed eaten a bite the whole time she was there.
If ive forgotten any ya versions of persephone, add them to the list in the comments or on the goodreads list ive created for young adult persephone retellings here. As persephone smiled up at her mother, demeters heart swelled with happiness, and the crops grew high and healthy. Persephone was the only daughter of demeter, the goddess of grain, agriculture and fertility unfortunately for her, hades,the ruler of the underworld, had dreadful plans for her. The myth of persephone s annual symbolic death and resurrection was the basis of one the largest religious celebrations in ancient greece, known as the eleusinian mysteries. Persephones fate inspired irish poet eavan boland to write the lovely poem, the pomegranate, which reflects on this relational aspect of the persephone myth. He scoops persephone up, and the lord of the dead not the devil or satan mind you plunges back down into the underworld. The mysteries of demeter and persephone embodied the values of the relatively peaceful farming and trading motherclan societies of the goddesspreerninent neo lithic, before the sacrifice of sons in war became common practice as pa triarchal warrior clans forced their way to power. Assign roles and readthrough as a group, or break larger classrooms into small groups and reconvene for a discussion. The best known tale from homers hymn to demetertells the story of persephone, demeter s daughter by zeus.
The number of pomegranate seeds persephone eats in the myth, varies with the region in which it is being told. Demeter and persephone 1 aphrodite, goddess of love, looked out across creation. The myth of demeter and persephone, then, illustrates the power of the greek religion as a religion of pure ideasof conceptions, which having no link on historical fact, yet, because they arose naturally out of the spirit of man, and embodied, in adequate symbols, his deepest thoughts concerning the conditions of his physical and spiritual. However, a closer examination will reveal insights on living and dying, loss and reconciliation, and suffering and healing.
This is just one of many hymns about the gods which were not actually written by homer at all but were written close to the same time period. Josephine donovan a continuation of josephine donovans exploration of american womens literary traditions, begun with new england local color literature. The myth of her abduction by hades was frequently used to explain the cycle of the. The myth of her abduction represents her function as the personification of. Believe it or not, that wasnt the case back when i wrote persephone. More importantly, this relationship is a mother daughter relationship and has ideas that greek culture. She was the sort of person who spread light and happiness wherever she went and so, naturally, she was loved by everyone but most especially by her mother. This extremely ancient and widely revered sacred story of mother and daughter long predates the judeochristian deification of father and son. Zeus heard her cry, and immediately dispatched the messenger god hermes to fetch the goddess of spring back from the underworld. Many years ago the seasons were not as they are today. In the year i worked on persephone, so did several other completely unconnected authors. Myth of demeter and persephone in terms of ritual essay. Persephone, the daughter of demeter and zeus, was the wife of hades and the queen of the underworld.
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