About
Age range: Good for 11-13 year olds
Estimated Time: Give yourself some time! This interactive takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Key Technology: Teachers can choose to stream this video on a computer and project it onto a screen or whiteboard with speakers or to let students watch individually on computers with headphones.
This interactive explores a dramatic interpretation of the Greek myth Jason and the Argonauts.
Think About...
Viewing Strategy:
Before you get started, think of what you already know about Greek mythology. Keep this in mind as you explore the interactive.
As you watch, keep a chronology (timeline) of the story as well as a list of the characters mentioned and their significance.
As you view the performance, consider whether you think Jason is a hero by definition. If so, why? If not, why not?
Comprehension
- Why does Jason think he should be king?
- What is Jason going in search of? Why is it important?
- How does Jason going to get where he is going?
- Who are the Argonauts?
Critical Thinking
- What was the effect of having the actors wear more modern clothes rather than dressing them in ancient Greek garb?
- What do you think the lesson of this myth is?
Reflection
Quiz Yourself!
What is the significance of the Golden Fleece?
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Learn More
Dig Deeper!
Read the myth of Jason and the Argonauts in its entirety at
http://www.mythweb.com/heroes/jason/
Learn more about this time-honored myth at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/greeks/jason_01.shtml
For the Educator
When discussing the epic of Jason, refer to this list of elements of the epic cycle and have students fill in the chart based on Jason’s voyage.
Have students make a map of Jason’s journey based on what they saw during the performance. Use this site as a reference
If this performance is being used as part of a unit on Greek mythology, have students write their own brief skits summarizing the content of other myths.
Overview
The Greek myth Jason and the Argonauts focuses on Jason’s quest to become king and the trials he must endure to do so. The myth is a classic epic journey in which the protagonist must overcome a series of obstacles to attain a goal. This myth is believed to take place approximately a generation before the Trojan War (i.e.: circa 1300 B.C.E.).
Instructional Strategies
- This interactive lends itself to large-group or individual listening as well as to both individual and group research.
- Have the class come up with a working definition for the following terms:
- Compare and contrast this myth with other epics you have read. Can you fit them easily into the criteria for an epic?
- Discuss the performance itself. What would have made it better? Were there any parts of the performance that students would have wanted to change and why?
