Mythology a summary myths we have read

(ii) Do you think this episode shows Odysseus’ best qualities? (2)

June 2012

1. 
   (i) Write a description of Theseus’ encounter with the Minotaur. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think Theseus was the bravest of the Greek heroes you have studied? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Write a description of Odysseus’ encounter with Circe. (8)
   

(ii) Odysseus was sometimes regarded by later Greeks as selfish and unreliable. Do you agree? Give your reasons. (2)

January 2012

1. 
   (i) Describe Hercules’ encounter with the Hydra. (8)
   

(ii) Was King Eurystheus justified when he later claimed that Hercules had cheated on this labour? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe Odysseus’ encounter with Circe. (8)
   

(ii)Who or what do you think posed the most danger to Odysseus on his voyage home to Ithaca? Explain your answer. (2)

November 2011

1. 
   (i) What was Hercules’ most difficult labour? Describe it. (8)
   

(ii) Describe two qualities Hercules showed in accomplishing it. (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe how Odysseus was able to listen to the Sirens’ music safely. (8)
   

(ii) Describe two qualities which Odysseus showed in achieving this. (2)

June 2011

1. 
   (i) Tell the story of Hercules’ penultimate labour, involving Atlas and the golden apples of the Hesperides. (8)
   

(ii) What, in your opinion, was Hercules’ easiest labour? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Tell the story of Odysseus’ encounter with the Cyclops. (8)
   

(ii) Describe two qualities which Odysseus displayed in his encounter with the Cyclops. (2)

January 2011

1. 
   (i) Describe any encounter which Odysseus had with a member of the opposite sex. (8)
   

(ii) Which two qualities did Odysseus show during this encounter? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the escape of Jason and Medea from Colchis. (8)
   

(ii) What impression do you have of Medea from this episode? (2)

November 2010

1. 
   (i) Describe the contest of the axes devised by Penelope for her suitors. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities of Penelope do you admire, and why? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the challenges set by King Aeetes for Jason. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities did Jason show in his quest for the fleece? Explain your answer. (2)

June 2010

1. 
   (i) Describe Hercules’ encounter with the Hydra. (2)
   

(ii) Was King Eurystheus right to say that Hercules had cheated in this labour? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the fall of Troy. (8)
   

(ii) What qualities did the Greeks show in capturing Troy? (2)

January 2010

November 2009

June 2009

1. 
   (i) Describe Odysseus’ encounter with the Sirens. (8)
   

(ii) Which two qualities did Odysseus show during this encounter? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe any two of Jason’s adventures on his way to Colchis. (8)
   

(ii) Why do you think Jason has been described as a Greek hero? (2)

January 2009

1. 
   (i) Describe Hercules’ encounter with the Hydra. (8)
   

(ii) Was King Eurystheus justified when he later claimed that Hercules had cheated? Explain your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe Odysseus’ encounter with Circe. (8)
   

(ii) Who or what do you think posed the most danger to Odysseus on his voyage home to Ithaca? Explain your answer. (2)

Practice Paper 2009 – 10

1. 
   (i) Imagine you are Circe. Describe your encounter with Odysseus and his men. (8)
   

(ii) What qualities did Odysseus show in his dealings with Circe? (2)

2. 
   (i) Explain why Achilles withdrew his men from the fighting at Troy and say why he changed his mind. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think Achilles was the greatest of the Greek heroes at Troy? Explain your answer. (2)

January 2008

1. 
   (i) Describe Odysseus’ encounter with the Sirens. (8)
   

(ii) Which two qualities did Odysseus show during this encounter? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the fall of Troy. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities did the Greeks show in capturing Troy? (2)

Practice Paper 2008 – 9

1. 
   (i) Describe Odysseus’ visit to Polyphemus. (8)
   

(ii) What impression of Odysseus does this incident give? State your reasons. (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the help given to (i) Theseus and (ii) Perseus in their missions to kill the Minotaur & Medusa. (8)
   

(ii) Which of the two monsters do you think was more dangerous, and why? (2)

March 2007

1. 
   (i) Tell the story of Perseus and the Gorgon Medusa. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities do you think the Greeks would have admired most about Perseus? Name two qualities, and briefly explain each of them. (2)

2. 
   (i) Tell the story of Odysseus and Circe. (8)
   

(ii) Apart from the story which you have just described, which of Odysseus’s adventures on his way home from Troy do you consider the most dangerous, and why? Give two reasons. (2)

Practice Paper 2007 – 8

1. 
   (i) Explain how Perseus was able to find and kill Medusa. (8)
   

(ii) Do you think Perseus was brave or foolish to undertake this task? Give one reason for your answer. (2)

2. 
   (i) Imagine you are Medea. Tell the story of Jason’s arrival in Colchis and his achievements there from your point of view. (8)
   

(ii) How do you think Jason felt about the way in which Medea helped him to escape from King Aeetes? Explain your opinion. (2)

Practice Paper 2006 – 7

1. 
   (i) Describe the adventures of Theseus from his arrival in Crete until his return to Athens. (8)
   

(ii) Why do you think some people feel sorry for the Minotaur? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe how Troy was eventually captured by the Greeks. (8)
   

(ii) Who do you think contributed most to the capture of Troy? (2)

June 2006

1. 
   (i) Describe Odysseus’ encounter with the Sirens. (8)
   

(ii) Which two qualities did Odysseus show during this encounter? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the fall of Troy. (8)
   

(ii) Which qualities did the Greeks show in capturing Troy? (2)

March 2006

1. 
   (i) Describe two of Hercules’ Labours. (8)
   

(ii) How well do you think he dealt with the problems in one of these encounters? Explain your opinion. (2)

2. 
   (i) Give an account of the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon during the Trojan War, and what the results were. (8)
   

(ii) Was Achilles or Agamemnon more to blame for the quarrel? Explain your opinion. (2)

June 2005

1. 
   (i) Describe any encounter which Odysseus had with a member of the opposite sex. (8)
   

(ii) Which two qualities did Odysseus show during this encounter? (2)

2. 
   (i) Describe the escape of Jason and Medea from Colchis. (8)
   

(ii) What do you think of Medea in this story? (2)