CLC 106 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2024
Define divine myth
Etiological stories; characters are gods/goddesses; plot: creation stories, relationships
among the gods and humans, explaining the origin of things; settings: before and
outside the present order, before human chronology
Define legend
Have some element of truth; Characters: heroes/heroines, gods play supporting roles,
people with extraordinary abilities; plots: quests or journeys, monster slaying, rescues,
waging wars; setting: Earth, but in the distant past
Define folktale
A traditional story that is not a divine myth or legend; function to entertain and teach (ex.
Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella). Characters: ordinary human beings,
often children, fantastical beings; plot: persecution, reversal of fortune, happily ever
after; setting: timeless and placeless
Define hubris
Excessive pride, wanton arrogance
What are the Legends of Iolcus?
Jason, the Argonauts, and Medea
Who is Aeson?
Father of Jason; he is the king of Aeolus
Who is Pelias?
Jason's uncle; he takes over the throne from Aeson; he is told a prophesy that one day
a man with one sandal would take away his throne. Pelias sends Jason on his quest to
retrieve the golden fleece
How does Hera test Jason?
, Jason meets an old woman and carries her across a stream, but the old woman is
actually Hera in disguise; this is when Jason loses one of his sandals
Who is Medea?
Heroine of Jason; she is from Colchis, daughter of Aeetis; she is very good with potions
What is the golden fleece?
The golden wool of a ram that is guarded by a deadly serpent at the end of a
treacherous journey
Who designs the Argo and what magical element does Athena insert in it?
Argus, a ship builder; Athena gives Jason a talking oracular wooden beam made out of
oak from one of Zeus's oak trees
Who are the original Argonauts?
Argus (the builder), Castor and Polydeuces (the Dioscuri), Zetes and Calais (the
Boreads)
Who are the later Argonauts?
Heracles and Hylas
What happens when the Argonauts stop at Lemnos?
The Lemnian women have insulted Aphrodite, who has punished them by making them
smell horrible so that none of the Lemnian men would sleep with them. The men have
been going to Thessaly to get wives and children, so the Lemnian women go crazy and
kill all of the other men, women and children. The Argonauts arrive and give the
Lemnian women attention, except for Heracles.
What happens when the Argonauts stop at Cios?
Heracles sets out to find wood to make another oar because his is broken; Hylas goes
out with him and he is taken by some water nymphs and drowned; Heracles goes to
search for Hylas and the Argonauts ditch both of them at Cios.
What happens when the Argonauts stop at Salmydessus?
Phineus (a blind oracle) is tortured by the Harpies because he used his oracular gifts to
give people too much information, insulting both Apollo and Zeus. The Argonauts are
here because they don't really know where they are. Phineus agrees to help them if
they get rid of the Harpies, so the Boreads chase them away and Phineus gives them
ANSWERS 2024
Define divine myth
Etiological stories; characters are gods/goddesses; plot: creation stories, relationships
among the gods and humans, explaining the origin of things; settings: before and
outside the present order, before human chronology
Define legend
Have some element of truth; Characters: heroes/heroines, gods play supporting roles,
people with extraordinary abilities; plots: quests or journeys, monster slaying, rescues,
waging wars; setting: Earth, but in the distant past
Define folktale
A traditional story that is not a divine myth or legend; function to entertain and teach (ex.
Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella). Characters: ordinary human beings,
often children, fantastical beings; plot: persecution, reversal of fortune, happily ever
after; setting: timeless and placeless
Define hubris
Excessive pride, wanton arrogance
What are the Legends of Iolcus?
Jason, the Argonauts, and Medea
Who is Aeson?
Father of Jason; he is the king of Aeolus
Who is Pelias?
Jason's uncle; he takes over the throne from Aeson; he is told a prophesy that one day
a man with one sandal would take away his throne. Pelias sends Jason on his quest to
retrieve the golden fleece
How does Hera test Jason?
, Jason meets an old woman and carries her across a stream, but the old woman is
actually Hera in disguise; this is when Jason loses one of his sandals
Who is Medea?
Heroine of Jason; she is from Colchis, daughter of Aeetis; she is very good with potions
What is the golden fleece?
The golden wool of a ram that is guarded by a deadly serpent at the end of a
treacherous journey
Who designs the Argo and what magical element does Athena insert in it?
Argus, a ship builder; Athena gives Jason a talking oracular wooden beam made out of
oak from one of Zeus's oak trees
Who are the original Argonauts?
Argus (the builder), Castor and Polydeuces (the Dioscuri), Zetes and Calais (the
Boreads)
Who are the later Argonauts?
Heracles and Hylas
What happens when the Argonauts stop at Lemnos?
The Lemnian women have insulted Aphrodite, who has punished them by making them
smell horrible so that none of the Lemnian men would sleep with them. The men have
been going to Thessaly to get wives and children, so the Lemnian women go crazy and
kill all of the other men, women and children. The Argonauts arrive and give the
Lemnian women attention, except for Heracles.
What happens when the Argonauts stop at Cios?
Heracles sets out to find wood to make another oar because his is broken; Hylas goes
out with him and he is taken by some water nymphs and drowned; Heracles goes to
search for Hylas and the Argonauts ditch both of them at Cios.
What happens when the Argonauts stop at Salmydessus?
Phineus (a blind oracle) is tortured by the Harpies because he used his oracular gifts to
give people too much information, insulting both Apollo and Zeus. The Argonauts are
here because they don't really know where they are. Phineus agrees to help them if
they get rid of the Harpies, so the Boreads chase them away and Phineus gives them
