English Unit Review

1. English Unit Review Perseus The Fenris Wolf Coyote and Crow Vasilia of the Golden Braid and Ivan the Pea

2. Perseus Characters • Acrisius: King of Argos who received prophecy that his grandson would kill him • Danae: Daughter of Acrisius, mother of Perseus • Zeus: king of the Gods, father of Perseus • Perseus: son of Danae and Zeus, slayed Medusa, saved Andromeda, and eventually killed Acrisius • Dictys: fisherman who rescued Danae and Perseus • Polydectes: brother of Dictys, a tyrant who wanted Danae but wanted to get rid of Perseus • Gorgons: fearsome monsters with wings and snaky hair who could turn men who looked at them to stone (the Terrible Sisters)

3. Perseus Characters • Medusa: The only Gorgon who could be killed because the other two were immortal • Hermes: the messenger god who helped Perseus by guiding him and giving him a sword • Athena: the goddess of wisdom who gave Perseus a shield to use as a mirror • Gray Women: three old women who shared one eye between them; gave Perseus directions to find the nymphs of the North • Nymphs of the North: beautiful maidens who gave Perseus a wallet (backpack), winged sandals, and a cap that made the wearer invisible • Andromeda: Ethiopian princess who was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a giant sea serpent • Cassiopeia: mother of Andromeda who boasted that she was more beautiful than the nymphs and punished for it • Electryon: son of Andromeda and Perseus, grandfather of Hercules

4. Perseus Questions • Why does King Acrisius of Argos imprison his only daughter, and where does he put her? He imprisons her because he was given a prophecy that his grandson would kill him. He puts her in a chamber underground. • What happens to Danae while she is held captive? She is visited by Zeus who comes as a golden rain. She becomes pregnant and has his child who is named Perseus.

5. Perseus Questions • What does Acrisius do when he finds out about the child? He puts Danae and Perseus in a chest and sets it out to sea. • What happens to Danae and Perseus? They are rescued on an island by a fisherman and his wife. The ruler of the island, Polydectes, falls in love with Danae. • What task does Polydectes set for Perseus and why? He sends him after the head of Medusa in order to get rid of him.

6. Perseus Questions • How does Perseus slay Medusa and who helps him? He uses a shield as a mirror so he doesn’t look at her directly and cuts off her head with a sword. He is assisted by Hermes and Athena. • Why is Andromeda chained to a rock? She is a sacrifice to keep the giant sea serpent from eating everyone. • How does Perseus exact revenge on Polydectes? He takes Medusa’s head out and turns him to stone. • How does Acrisius die? He is hit by a discus thrown by Perseus.

7. The Fenris Wolf Characters • Loki: the fire god; evil yet valued for his cleverness • Hel: the goddess of the Underworld; offspring of Loki and a giantess • Great world serpent:another of Loki’s offspring, cast into the sea by Odin • FenrisWolf: third offspring of Loki and giantess; huge monster • Tyr: a brave god who tried to tame the Fenris Wolf. • Thor: the smith god who tried to make a chain to hold the wolf • Odin: the King of the Norse gods

8. The Fenris Wolf Questions • What did the gods decide to do when they realized they couldn’t tame the Fenris Wolf? They had the dwarves who lived underground make a fine chain from strange materials. • How did they finally bind the wolf? They gave him Tyr as a hostage who put his hand in the wolf’s mouth while he was bound with the chain. Even though he bit off Tyr’s hand, he did not break the chain. • What will happen when Odin’s reign finally ends? The wolf would be released and the sea serpent would come out of the sea. The Fenris wolf would eat Odin and the world would end.

9. Coyote and Crow Characters/Questions • Coyote: a trickster who is very hungry • Crow: possesses a ball of deer fat • What did Crow have that Coyote wanted? Why did he want it? He wanted the Crow’s deer fat because he was so hungry from traveling around the country. • How did Coyote trick Crow? Was he successful in getting what he wanted? He tricked the Crow with insincere compliments. He was successful because he got Crow to sing and drop the deer fat.

10. Vasilisa of the Golden Braid and Ivan the Pea Characters • Svetozar: the tsar and father of Vasilisa and Ivan • Vasilisa: a beautiful girl with long golden hair • Dragon: a monster who could become a whirlwind • Old Woman: an old crone who gave directions to find the dragon and wanted water from the dragon to make her young • Smithy: the blacksmith who helped Ivan the Pea by making a giant staff to kill the dragon • Ivan the Pea:the brother of Vasilisa who is the only one who can slay the dragon

11. Vasilisa of the Golden Braid and Ivan the Pea Questions • Why did Vasilisa want to go outside so badly? She was about to be married and had never been out • What happened when she went outside? A giant whirlwind blew her away • Who went to look for Vasilisa when she disappeared? Her brothers • Who were the two people who gave the directions to the dragon’s castle? The old woman and a beggar

12. Vasilisa of the Golden Braid and Ivan the Pea Questions • How did Vasilisa know when the dragon was coming home? The castle would turn around and make noise • What happened to the two brothers when the dragon came home? He smashed them and threw them into a pit • How did Ivan the Pea get his name? He was born after his mother ate a pea • Describe how Ivan the Pea rescued Vasilisa? He had a smithy make a giant staff which smashed the dragon into tiny pieces. He then brought somebody back to life. • Who did he make ruler of the dragon’s kingdom? The smithy • What did he take back to the old woman? Magic water • What happened when Vasilisa and her brothers returned home? There was a celebration. Vasilisa found a husband and Ivan a wife. Ivan became ruler after his father died.

13. Origins of Myths • Perseus-Greek • The Fenris Wolf-Norse • Coyote and Crow-Native American • Vasilisa of the Golden Braid and Ivan the Pea-Russian