Greek Mythology

As most of you probably know, I LOVE Greek Mythology. Apparently so do JK Rowling and Rick Riordan if you look at all the greek mythological allusions in the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson novels.

Foster says: Myth is a body of story that matters.

Greek Myths matter!

Here are a few of the many great sites out there on Greek Mythology.
http://www.mythweb.com/
http://www.theoi.com/
http://www.desy.de/gna/interpedia/greek_myth/greek_myth.html
http://messagenetcommresearch.com/myths/

Of course, there are other myths out there.
Norse
Native American
African

and more...

Foster specifically mentions Icarus and two poems (one by Auden and one by William Carlos Williams) based on a painting:


Your job is to recognize the significance of these myths in your lives, and especially in the literature you are reading.

Work you are reading or incident in your life	reference or mythological allusion	relevent themes or symbols	Why would the writer make this allusion? What does it add? Is it ironic?
Inferno by Dante Alighieri	Inclusion of Roman poet Virgil		Dante(both the author and the character) revered Virgil as the best poet of Rome's era, and his work was praised by Italian scholars during Dante's time. His inclusion in the story as Dante's guide through the Christian Hell adds a sense of weight and gravity to their actions, as well as the authority of two scholars explanations regarding the realm of the Damned. Virgil resides primarily in the First Circle of Hell, Limbo, where those who were not baptized or lived before Christ's time are permitted to exist.