In the Beginning and Pandora's Box

Before Reading

Get together with a partner and discuss the following questions:

1. What stories do you know about the way the world started? (For example, Christians have the story of God creating the world in seven days and making Adam and Eve – the first people - from mud.)
2. What do you think are the biggest problems facing human beings? Make a list. (Sickness, …..)

VOCABULARY

WHILE READING

1. Where did the gods live, and who was their king?
2. Complete this chart:

Animal	What Epimetheus gave them
	shells
horses
anteaters
birds

 

3. a) Which creature did Prometheus make?

b) How was it different from the others?

c) What gift did Prometheus give the creature?

4. What did Zeus call the humans?
5. How did Zeus punish Prometheus?
6. Prometheus felt pain. What else did he feel?
7. This is really two stories: "In the Beginning" and "Pandora’s Box". Where do you think the second story begins? (Copy the start of the sentence.)
8. What gifts did the gods give Pandora?

God	Gift
Venus
	A clever tongue
Apollo

 

9. What was strange about Pandora and Epimetheus’s wedding present?

10. Choose the correct answer. Pandora opened the box because she

1. wanted some cloth.
2. felt sorry for the creatures inside.
3. the creatures forced her to open it.
4. felt curious.