希臘羅馬神話期末考試

1、.Section1：T or FSection2：ChoiceSection3：Explain idioms 1. Pandoras Box 災(zāi)難之盒 含義：to open Pandoras box means to create evil that cannot be undone.來源：Pandoras box involves a mythological story in which the a box was given to a human who was warned never to open the box, but his curiosity made him open i

2、t resulting in a disaster. 2. The Horn of Amalthea豐饒角 含義：A symbol of abundance and nourishment, commonly a large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, flowers, nuts, other edibles, or wealth in some form.來源：One day, as Amalthea played with little Zeus, she accidentally broke off her horn.

3、To make up for it and as a sign of gratitude, Zeus made the broken horn always be full of whatever its owner desired. 3. The Midas/Golden Touch點石成金 含義：Ability to turn everything he touched into gold. if someone has the Midas touch, everything they do is successful and makes money for them來源：Midass j

4、ob knew no bounds and as soon as he got home, he ordered the servants to set a splendid repast on the table. 4. A Procrustean Bed 強(qiáng)迫一致 含義：When something is Procrustean, different lengths or sizes or properties are fitted to an arbitrary standard.來源： Procrustes was a rogue smith and bandit from Attic

5、a who physically attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size of an iron bed. 5. Sow the Dragon Teeth挑起糾紛 含義：The dragons teeth, once planted, would grow into fully armed warriors.來源：In Greek myth, dragons teeth feature prominently in the legends o

6、f the Phoenician prince Cadmus and Jasons quest for the Golden Fleece. 6. Apple of Discord禍根 含義： A euphemism for a small matter that could lead to a bigger dispute.來源：The Greek goddess of discord, Eris, became disgruntled after she was excluded from the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. In retaliation,

7、she tossed a golden apple inscribed Kallisti (for the most beautiful one), into the wedding party. Three goddesses claimed the apple: Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Paris of Troy was appointed to select the recipient. He awarded the apple to Aphrodite, thus indirectly causing the Trojan War. 7. The He

8、el of Achilles唯一的弱點 含義：A deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially leads to downfall來源：The mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common.Thetis treated Achille

9、s with Ambrosia, making him invulnerable. Thetis burned away his mortality in the house fire except on the heel, with which he was held.Thetis dipped the infant Achilles in the river Styx, holding onto him by his heel. 8. Penelopes Web永遠(yuǎn)做不完的工作 含義：The tactics of delaying sth on purpose; the task that

10、 can never be finished來源：Penelope is the wife of Odysseus who was called to fight in the Trojan War. She waits twenty years for the final return of her husband .In order to put off remarriage, She has devised tricks to delay her suitors, one of which is to pretend to be weaving a burial shroud for O

11、dysseuss elderly father Laertes and claiming that she will choose a suitor when she has finished. Every night for three years, she undoes part of the shroud, until Melantho, one of twelve unfaithful serving women, discovers her chicanery and reveals it to the suitors. 9. Between Scylla and Charybdis

12、進(jìn)退維谷 含義：Being between Scylla and Charybdis is an idiom expresses the meaning of having to choose between two evils.來源： Scylla was rationalized as a rock shoal (described as a six-headed sea monster) on the Italian side of the strait and Charybdis was a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily. They were re

13、garded as a sea hazard located close enough to each other that they posed an inescapable threat to passing sailors; avoiding Charybdis meant passing too close to Scylla and vice versa. According to Homer, Odysseus was forced to choose which monster to confront while passing through the strait; he op

14、ted to pass by Scylla and lose only a few sailors, rather than risk the loss of his entire ship in the whirlpool. 10. Necklace of Harmonia不祥之物 含義：Necklace of Harmonia brought great misfortune to all of its wearers or owners.來源：Aphrodite bore a daughter, Harmonia, from Ares seed. Harmonia married Cad

15、mus, the founder of Thebes. Upon hearing of the royal engagement, Hephaestus presented Harmonia with an exquisite necklace as a wedding gift. The necklace was made by Hephaestus own hand and was cursed to bring disaster to any who wore it. 13. A Sisyphean Task含義：Endlessly laborious or futile來源：Sisyp

16、hus was famed as the craftiest of men. He was condemned forever to roll a huge stone up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again on nearing the top. 15. Give a cake to Cerberus含義：bribe來源：Cerberus is a watchdog at the gates of Tartarus. He would let the souls in but not out. However he could b

17、e bribed with a honey cake on occasion or with sweet music. Section4：Explain in English the meaning of following terms. 15% (5) 1. Anthropomorphism神人同形同性 In Greek myth, the gods and goddesses are not only personifications of the forces of the universe, they are seen as beings much like common men an

18、d women. The term for this is “Anthropomorphism”, meaning “in the form of a human being.” 2. The Five Ages of Men五個時代 The Golden Age; the Silver Age; the Bronze Age; the Heroic Age; the Iron Age 3. Tartarus 地獄 The deeper region, where the Titans had been imprisoned(Tartarus itself formed a dismal pi

19、cture, it had gates of bronze guarded by Cerberus, surrounded by fire, encased by triple wall, and within, the wailing and cries of those being punished. It is the underworld zone of eternal torment, where the greatest sinners have been punished for their wrong doing.) 4. The Elysian Field 天堂領(lǐng)域 The

20、paradise for the Greeks 5. The Asphodel Field 充滿游魂的地方A field inhabited by wandering souls 6. Styx 冥河A river in Hades across which Charon ferried the souls of the dead. 7. Hubris 過分驕傲 Overbearing pride or presumption. 8. Satyr森林之神，好色的人 Satyrs are a troop of male companions of Pan and Dionysus .In myt

21、hs they are often associated with pipe-playing 9. Maenad 酒神的女祭司，異常激動的女人 Often the maenads were portrayed as inspired by him into a state of ecstatic frenzy, through a combination of dancing and drunken intoxication. In this state, they would lose all self-control. 10. Narcissism 自戀 Narcissus is a ma

22、n who was renowned for his beauty. He was exceptionally proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. Nemesis saw this and attracted Narcissus to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his r

23、eflection, Narcissus died. 11. Harpy鷹身女妖 Half woman, half bird ；vicious winged monster; often depicted as a bird with the head of a woman 12. Xenia好客 Xenia is the Greek concept of hospitality, or generosity and courtesy shown to those who are far from home. 13.Dionysia 酒神節(jié)(in ancient Greece) festiva

24、ls of the god Dionysus, an orgiastic festival in ancient Greece in honor of Dionysus 14.Aegis 羊皮盾（宙斯及其女兒雅典娜所持的帝盾）A shield hold by Athena. Under ones aegis means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source.15. Metamorphosis 變形，變質(zhì)A person or thing develops a

25、nd changes into something completely different.( 變形a complete change of physical form or substance especially as by magic or witchcraft.) 16.Demigod 半人半神A less important god, especially one who is half god and half human. 17.Centaur 人首馬身的動物，半人馬A creature with the head, arms, and chest of a man, and

26、the body and legs of a horse.( In classical mythology, a centaur is a creature with the head, arms, and body of a man, and the body and legs of a horse.) 18.The Deucalion FloodAphrodites magic girdle was a golden girdle that caused men and gods to fall hopelessly in love with her.( Zeus visited Arca

27、dia and Thessaly，and disliked the deadly wrongs of men He decided to clear the earth of them allWithout hesitation he released the rainy south wind and called upon the heartless Poseidon to helpSoon the whole world sank in a vast ocean， and the entire human race disappeared in the unheard of flood，a

28、ll but two poor Thessalians )Section5：Essay questions 15 %( 3) Unit 1: Examples of mythological accounts explaining the explainable. Uranus lay upon Gaia and made love to her without stop. (The interplay between rain and soil that makes plants come to life and grow.)Human Beings fashioned from clayG

29、ods and heroes descending into the Underground in the west and emerging in the East. ( Sun rises in the East and sets in the West.)Persephone lived three months in the Underground with her husband and returned to live with her mother Demeter for the rest of year. (The return of spring after winter.)

30、Eros, equipped with his sharp and blunt arrows, brings about many tragedies of human love. (Freuds theory about love or sex as the most fundamental drive from humans.) Unit 2: Similarities between “the first woman” in the Greek(Pandora) and Christian creation myth(Eve)Eve was the instigator of tbe w

31、hole affair, for through her beauty and her wiles she seduced Adam to taste of the forbidden fruit. Woman is like an apple, lovely without, rotten within.Eve was lured by the snake. Pandora was driven by her curiosity. Their behaviors caused evil and plagues to human-beings. Unit 3: Reasons that anc

32、ient Greeks tend to depict Zeus as a promiscuous man, an unfaithful husband? Zeus fatal Weaknesses: an uncontrollable lust for sexual driveThis shows the anthropomorphism. The ancient emperors usually had many lovers, so the Greeks depict Zeus as a promiscuous man. This also shows the ancient Greeks

33、 imagination for a man. Reproduction is blessing. Unit 4: Symbolic meaning of Olive Tree in the Greek story and Holy Bible When Poseidon and Athena disputed as to which of them should give the name to the capital of Attica, the gods decided, that it should receive its name from him who should bestow

34、 upon man the most useful gift. Poseidon then created the horse, and Athena called forth the olive tree, for which the honor was conferred on her. The olive branch in Bible appears in the story of Noahs ark. When the water receded, a dove flied with an olive branch in its mouse. In the Greek story,

35、Olive Tree means peace and wealth. In the Holy Bible , Olive Tree appeared after the flood ,so it represents peace. Unit 5: Differences between Athena and Ares Ares: thirst for the “hand to hand combat” and the “frenzy of battle and bloodshed”Athena: “war for the purposes of justice”, “peaceful sett

36、lements” war at a distance, “strategic planning of war” What are the distinctive features of Dionysus as a religious festival?The Dionysia was a large religious festival in ancient Athens in honor of Dionysus. The central event was the performance of tragedies and comedies. Dionysus was a god, mirro

37、ring the innate wildness of humanity which Athenians abhorred and tried to control. The Dionysia was a time to let out their inhibitions through highly emotional tragedies or irreverent comedies. People dressed like Satyrs and Maenads. Some men dressed as women and women as men. The Dionysia was als

38、o marked by an element of role-reversal and boundary-crossing: lower class citizens could mock the upper class; or women could insult their male relatives. What are the Apollonian and Dionysian elements in music style and human psyche? MusicHuman psycheApollo(rational)Golden lyre, with clear melodie

39、s, evoking feelings of harmony and serenitySelf-control, moderation, mental balanceDionysus(irrational)Tambourine, with furious and erratic rhythms, expressing passionate and impulsive nature.Spontaneous and instinctive emotions; self-indulgence, excess Unit 6 Interpretation of the Furies, Apollos a

40、nd Athenas judgment on Orestes matricide.( See the scripts in PPT for Unit 6)Orestes is being hounded and terrorized by the Furies for the blood crime of matricide. Orestes killed his mother Clytemnestra, who murdered his father Agamemnon.（背景）Furies: holiness of motherhood, reminiscent of matriarchi

41、es; tribal laws = an eye for eyeApollo: laws of males-dominated societyAthena: representing the voice of womanhood to deny mothers role as the creator. In the tales of Callisto being transformed into a bear, and Acteon being transformed into a stag, what common theme does the “transformation” reveal

42、?Ancient Greeks were sober and contemplative. They explore the mystery of human identify and human destiny.1) Transformation from human to non- human which indicates the loss of human identifies.2) Inescapable destiny of “the Hunter being hunted” Unit 7 How do you interpret the landscape imagery in

43、the story of Narcissus? (See PPT for session 7)Landscape imagery:There was a clear fountain, with water like silver, to which the shepherds never drove their flocks. Nor did the mountain goats resort to it, nor any of the beasts of the forest; neither was it defaced with fallen leaves or branches; b

44、ut the grass grew fresh around it, and the rocks sheltered it from the sun.His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image.The stillness of clear fountain suggests Narcissus insusceptibility to the lust of the world. While his tears disturbed the image, his lust of eyes had deflowered him, tak

45、ing away his virginity - a pure soul and a peaceful mind. Interpretation of how Cupid (Eros) falls in love with Psyche. (See the scripts in PPT for unit 7) The erotic love (Eros) and the spiritual love (Psyche) belong together in an inseparable union. The symbolic meaning of “the union of Cupid (Ero

46、s) and Psyche” is animating spirit.In Venuss garden there are two fountains: one with sweet water, the other one with bitter. Cupid fills two vases with each and then goes to Psyches bedchamber where she is sleeping. Cupid proceeds to let a few drops from the bitter fountain water fall on her lips,

47、then touches her side with his pointed arrow.Feeling the touch of the arrow, Psyche wakes up, opens her eyes, and seems to be gazing straight at Cupid who is invisible. This startles Cupid enough that he ends up wounding himself. Cupid immediately sets out to repair the damage he has done to Psyche,

48、 and pours a few drops of the sweet water in her hair. Interpretation of ancient Greeks attitudes toward immortality in the love story of Tithonus and Eos Ancient Greeks against immortal youth. They thought that a man shouldnt desire in any way to vary from the kindly race of men, or pass beyond the

49、 goal of ordinance. Unit 8&9 1 Why is Perseus regarded as a perfect hero?Perseus was the most perfect Greek hero in myths. He was the only Greek hero who maintained supportive relationship with women throughout his career. In his pursuit of glory, he exhibited both courage and wisdom. In killing Med

50、usa, he outwitted the monster by his shrewdness and tricks rather than mere courage and strength. He was favored by gods when he was alive and after his death, he was transformed into a constellation. 2 What is Greeks conception of Hero as the story of Heracles/Jason reveals.Hercules is Greeces grea

51、test heroes in myth, is the embodiment of strength, courage and wisdom.Jason : youthful confidence and the spirit of adventure courage to come alone to capture a kingdom leader of a group of heroes valiance to fight enormous evils and conquer monsterssuccess in accomplishing the impossible 3 What is Greeks conception of destiny as the story of Oedipus reveals?