Study Guide for Chapter Three: How the World and Mankind Were Created

Hamilton's retelling of Greek creation stories relies heavily on Hesiod's poetic work Theogony.
Read the Theogony and a study guide keyed to it.

Questions:
What was the "world" like before the gods came on the scene? Night and Erebus were the first two children of Chaos. Who was their child? How was that child conceived? Why is this child so important for later developments? What's Hamilton's theory about the personification of the Earth and Heaven? Why did that personification blossom with the introduction of later figures? Who were the first creatures to have the appearance of life? Who came next? How were they different than the monsters? Who injured Heaven? How and why? What sprang from the blood of the injured Heaven?

Why does Zeus eventually overthrow Cronus? How does Rhea fool Cronus? How does Zeus rescue his siblings? What happens to the stone that faked Cronus out?

Who helps Cronus in the war? Who are Zeus' allies? How does Zeus' punish his enemies after they lose? Who is Atlas and what was his fate? Who then must Zeus fight to become undisputed world champion?

Hamilton describes what the world was like after the destruction of the Titans and Giants. Get a good picture of the geography of the pre-human world. If you're confused, try to sketch a map? Who were the Cimmerians? The Hyperboreans? Where is the realm of the dead?

How was man created? What do Prometheus' and Epimetheus' names mean and why are they apt? Why is Epimetheus a dunderhead? How does Prometheus come to man's aid?

Describe the various ages of man, starting with gold and ending with iron. How are the men like the metal that gives their age its name?

What two gripes did Zeus have against Prometheus? How did Zeus get revenge? What does Pandora's name mean and why is it apt? Hamilton calls Pandora a beautiful disaster. Do you think she knew that 311 song? What's in Pandora's infamous box? Why does she open it? What's the result? What doesn't come screeching out of the box and why is it appropriate for hope to remain?

How does Zeus personally punish Prometheus for helping mankind? What does Prometheus know that could help Zeus in the future? In light of the fate placed on Zeus, what do you think
of his philandering? How does Prometheus escape?

Does the Deluge remind you of any other stories? Why does Zeus send the flood? How many days did it rain? Who was saved? How? Why doesn't Zeus get angry at their survival? What are they urged to do? What solution do they hit on? How is the new race born?

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Mrs. Hoffman's English Page
Hamilton's Myth Study Guides
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