Arachne - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

ArachneSlide2

How does the author describe Arachne’s skill and character traits, both positive and negative?

The author describes Arachne as being more skilled than her father at weaving. Her weaving was so soft and even which made the cloth very fine. Her embroidery was so gorgeous that soon her products where know all over Greece.

The author describes Arachne as a maiden famous throughout Greece even though she was not wellborn or beautiful. She was small and pale with light eyes and dusty brown hair. She was quick and graceful. Arachne was very proud of her skill, so proud in fact, that she was angered easily when the on lookers thought that

Athene

was the only one that could teach her to weave.Slide3

Obscure

She lived in an

obscure

little village, and her father was a humble dyer of wool.

Not

well-knownSlide4

Indignant

Therefore when she heard them murmur, she would stop her work and turn around

indignantly

to say, “With my own ten fingers I gained this skill, and by hard practice from early morning till night. I never had time to stand looking as you people do while another maiden worked. Not if I had, would I give

Athene

credit because the

girl

was more skillful than I. As for

Athene’s

weaving, how could there be finer cloth or more beautiful embroidery than mine? If

Athene

herself were to come down and compete with me, she could do no better than I.”

In a manner that expresses anger over an injustice.Slide5

“Unpack” Arachne’s prideful behavior and indignation. How does it reveal her disdainful attitude?

Instead of being humbled by all the praise she receives, she has become indignant toward those who say that

Athene

has taught her to spin and weave.Slide6

Obstinacy

Before the group that was gathered

there

she would not give in; so pressing her pale lips together in

obstinacy

and pride, she led the goddess to one of the great looms and set herself before the other.

Unwillingness to change one’s behavior or attitudeSlide7

Describe Arachne’s reaction when she discovers that she is speaking to

Athene

in lines 53-67, citing textual evidence.

When Arachne realizes she is speaking to

Athene

she turns red with embarrassment and then before the group of people she presses her lips together in obstinacy and pride. Arachne shows

Athene

to the other loom, challenging the goddess to a weaving contest to prove she is the better weaver.Slide8

How does the old woman's’ advice to Arachne express the theme of the myth?

How does it signify a message about human behavior?

The old woman’s advice to Arachne was that she should not claim to be equal to the immortal gods and that Arachne should ask for forgiveness for what she said. The old woman also tells Arachne that she should be content with her fame of being the best spinner and weaver that mortal eyes have ever beheld. This advice signifies that human beings should not be proud, nor overstep their bounds.Slide9

With a partner: You have 1 minute to discuss what happens to Arachne at the end of the myth.

GO!

Arachne’s disdainful, insulting behavior causes

Athene

to transform her into a spider.Slide10

Strive

The central figure was the goddess herself competing with Poseidon for possession of the city of Athens; but in the four corners were mortals who had tried to

strive

with gods and pictures of the awful fate that had overtaken them.

competeSlide11

Descendants

The goddess touched the rope and touched the maiden, “Live on, wicked girl,” she said. “Live on and spin, both you and your

descendants

.”

People who come afterSlide12

Was Arachne’s punishment justified?

Yes? No? Why?

Arachne designed a pattern of scenes which showed evil or unworthy actions of the gods, how they had deceived fair maiden, resort to trickery, and appeared on earth from time to time as poor and humble people.