MYTHOLOGY PROJECT

In conjunction with our study of the Greek gods, goddesses, and heroes, you are required to do a project that will comprise a major portion of your quarter grade. This project is in addition to the mid-term exam that you will be taking on this unit of study. This project will count toward 20% of your quarter grade.

You will be assigned one of two projects listed below:

GROUP PROJECT I

RULES:

1.      You may work individually, or in groups of no more than 3 people - unless you receive prior approval from me. Please be aware that, if you choose to work in a group, I will expect more work product, not less.

2.      I am allowing a great deal of creative flexibility and latitude vis-a-vis the project you select; however, I will need to approve your project in advance to ensure compliance with the basic requirements.

3.      All projects must be formally presented to the class and the quality of the presentation itself will be a portion of the grade.

4.      A written composition (e.g., informational or comparative essay, song, play, research paper, etc.) must accompany each individual or group presentation. The composition, whether handwritten or typed, must be double-spaced. If typed, it should be in 12 point font, with 1 1/2 inch margins. You must submit both a hard copy as well as a floppy disk of your work. If handwritten, the composition must be clearly legible and neat, as well as in cursive.

5.      The written composition will be graded for spelling, punctuation, grammar, accuracy and content. All parts of the project will be graded using the following criteria:

·        how close the final product is to the project initially presented to me for approval (i.e., whether you did everything you promised to do)

·        comprehensiveness (how thoroughly and completely you covered your topic)

·        insightfulness (how thoughtful, perceptive, and penetrating your paper or project appeared to be with regard to the topic selected

·        consistency with facts known about Greek epics, mythology, history, etc. (how accurately you related the information you learned about mythology)

·        creativity (how original, imaginative, and expressive you were)

·        clarity and neatness of presentation (how attentive you were to the details of your project and presentation)

·       obvious level of effort, whether individual or group (that is, whether you did the minimum or went the “extra mile”). Therefore, if you choose to work in a group, select your partner(s) wisely and be sure that you have both the time and transportation to get together after school or on the weekends.

·        props, artistic mediums, audio-visual aids, etc., you used to make your project attractive and interesting

**   DUE DATES will be announced and listed under “IMPORTANT DATES” on the website.

SUGGESTED PROJECT TOPICS

1.    Choose a god or goddess and research where primary temples may have been built in honor or him/her in ancient Greece. Build a model of such a temple (with attention to detail), and then write an informational paper on the god or goddess, patron city, temple practices, etc.

2.    Identify your favorite (or most interesting) god or goddess and put together an elaborate costume depicting how that god or goddess was most often described. In addition to your written composition, dress up as this god or goddess and make a presentation to the class in the form of a monologue, soliloquy, or other dramatic presentation emphasizing his/her importance to early Greek culture.

3.   Research the great Parthenon in Athens and present your paper to the class with A/V props, models, pictures, etc.

4.    Research a well-known landmark or spot in Greece that was associated with the gods and goddesses during ancient times (e.g., the healing sanctuary at Epidaurus; the great Oracle at Delphi, etc.) and make a presentation related to the rites and practices that transpired there.

5.    Make a model; draw, paint, or otherwise artistically re-create your image of either Mount Olympus, legendary home of the gods, or the Underworld, home of the god Hades, based upon what has been written about them in various literary texts.

6.    Research and artistically depict the classic art or architecture of ancient Greece and compare it to well-known architecture in America and Europe.

7.    Recreate a scene from the Trojan War or the journey of Odysseus.

8.    Research Greek theatre and its importance to Greek culture. Present a scene from a Greek tragedy or comedy; or, write and produce your own mini-comedy or drama related to the Greek gods and goddesses.

9.    Write a "compare and contrast" essay using one of the following as your subject:

a)  Greek gods and goddesses compared to the gods and goddesses of other cultures (e.g., the Norse, Celtic, or Egyptian gods and goddesses)

            b)  A Greek hero/heroine compared to a modern day hero/heroine

            c)  Greek mythology with modern-day mythic themes such as Star Wars,  etc.

10.   Research the influence that the Greek language and alphabet has had on modern English and select a unique way to present common words and phrases to the class that includes word roots and etymologies.

11.   Compare our modern day Olympics to the early games and festivals held in ancient Greece and make a prediction regarding how the Olympic games might evolve in the future.

INDIVIDUAL PROJECT II

Purpose:

The impact of Greek and Roman Mythology on Western Civilization cannot be overstated. America, as a democratic nation, is a by-product of the influence of Ancient Greece and Rome in the areas of language, art, music, drama, poetry, literature, politics, architecture, mathematics, military science, medicine, philosophy, sports, and religion. Study of the Ancient Greek and Romans and classical antiquity was revived in Europe during the Renaissance and survives in great literature and art from that period, much of which is reflected in priceless collections at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.  The Romantic period of the late 18^th century also enthusiastically embraced all things Greek and Roman and inspired a new brand of contemporary poets such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Keats, Byron, and Shelley.  Even 19^th century American authors such as Bulfinch and Hawthorne have recognized that the study of Greek and Roman mythology is essential to the understanding of British and American literature. Having understood these contributions to the culture and history of Western Civilization, it is time to research and acknowledge the various ways that Ancient Greek and Roman myths and stories have crept into popular American culture.

Task:

Many modern products, businesses, inventions, and discoveries that we use or refer to on a daily basis carry the names of Greek and Roman gods, goddesses,  mythological creatures, and heroes/heroines. Your task is to identify some of these products, businesses, inventions, and discoveries and explain why each specific name was chosen.

Example:

In the Trojan War, described by Homer in his epic poem The Iliad, Ajax is the tallest and strongest of all the Achaean warriors who fight the Trojans. Trained by the centaur Chiron, he battles with a great hammer and huge shield made of ox-hides and bronze. Though not as skilled in arms, perhaps, as the better known hero, Achilles, he does not die by the hand of any other warrior during the war.

In 1947, corporate conglomerate Colgate–Palmolive introduced a new cleanser called Ajax that it claimed was “stronger than dirt.” Later, it used the same slogan to introduce its laundry detergent version of the cleaner. When its first commercial ran on TV the following year, the jingle Americans heard was “You'll stop paying the elbow tax, when you start cleaning with Ajax,” an allusion to the strength of the Greek warrior Ajax that suggested to consumers that, with this product, no “elbow grease” was needed.

Requirements:

• Project Due Date will be announced and listed on the website.
• A minimum of 7 products, businesses, inventions, and/or discoveries must be included in order to get a passing grade.
• In addition to identifying the product, business, invention, and/or discovery, you must explain the relationship of its name to Greek or Roman mythology, and you must explain why the name was chosen, i.e., recap the Greek or Roman myth that makes it an appropriate choice, as illustrated in the example above.
• Each of your submissions must include an illustration of the product, business, invention, and/or discovery.
• Illustrations may be drawn by hand, computer generated, or taken from the product itself.
• You should display your work on a poster board, with detailed explanations typed beneath each illustration.
• All work should be neat, colorful, and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
• It will be necessary for you to independently research some of the Greek and Roman myths and legends not covered in class as part of this project.
• You will be required to orally present your project to the class during the week scheduled for the project unless you make arrangements otherwise.
• Those students not having access at home to computers for research may use my classroom books and resources during lunch as needed
• This project comprises 20% of your grade for the grading period.