Allusions to Ancient Greek Mythology in Shakespeare
Shakespeare refers to other literary works within his plays and poems. This literary technique is called an ______.
Shakespeare often alludes to Ancient Greek Mythology. Within the The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare alludes to the myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece.
TASK: Summarize the main points of myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece using this website:
http://www.mythweb.com/heroes/jason/
Jason’s Quest (Point form notes)
Birth:
Destiny or Fate Revealed:
Leaving Home:
Struggles:
Journey Home:
Reward:
Romance:
Other Allusions in The Merchant of Venice
More Ancient Greek Mythology References
Janus was the roman god of gateways and beginnings. He is often shown having two faces looking in opposite directions. The month of ______is named for him.
Troy, Trojans, love story
Thisbe: Pyramus and Thisbe are madly in love and live in houses next to each other. Their parents, however, forbid their romance and build a wall between the houses. The lovers find a chink in the wall through which they speak and kiss one another. One night they decide to run away together, meeting at the Tomb of Ninus. Pyramus arrives first, and she sees a terrifying tiger with blood on its mouth. She runs away in fear, dropping her cloak. The tiger tears up the cloak and bloodies it. When Thisbe arrives, he sees the cloak, assumes his lover has died, and kills himself in sorrow. Pyramus returns, sees Thisbe's body, and kills herself with the same knife. From then on, mulberries take on the dark red color of their blood, making the lovers' bond eternal.
Orpheus – see comic strip
Endymion: According to the legend, Endymion was a shepherd who fell asleep on Mount Latmos and so entranced the goddess of the moon, Cynthia (also known as Diana or Phœbe), that she fell in love with him.
Diana – Roman goddness of maidens and virginity, goddess o the hunt (known as Artemis in Ancient Greek mythology)
Other Allusions
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