Perseus and Medusa Study Questions

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Bring on the tough stuff - there's not just one right answer.

1. Why does Perseus have to go on a quest for Medusa's head?
2. What happens to people unlucky enough to look Medusa in the eyes?
3. Do you feel bad for Medusa? Why or why not?
4. How does Perseus get the Graeae to tell him the location of the Nymphai?
5. What magical artifacts do the Nymphai give to Perseus to help him complete his quest?
6. What are the properties of each artifact?
7. Is it right for Perseus to kill Medusa? Why, or why not?
8. Which of Perseus' qualities are heroic? Does he have any un-heroic qualities?
9. Watch either the 1981 or 2010 version of Clash of the Titans. Compare and contrast the Hollywood films to the original myth.
10. Research the myths surrounding other famous Greek heroes like Odysseus, Theseus, or Heracles. Compare and contrast these figures to Perseus.
11. Pick a modern superhero or action star and compare him or her to Perseus. How are our modern heroes similar or different from the ancient Greek ones? What qualities do we admire in heroes? What qualities did the ancients admire?