Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds

The New Windmill Book of Greek Myths, Geraldine McCaughrean (1992)

Before Reading

1. In some countries, why do we have a season called winter? How is winter different from the other seasons?
2. Do you know any myths that explain why we have winter?
3. Match the following words/phrases to their definitions (or pictures).

WORD/PHRASE	DEFINITION
in bloom	The edge of something (e.g. a cup, a river)
a blossom
the brim	Producing flowers
a chariot	A flower
a whip
reins	Kindness to people when they visit you – e.g. giving them food and drink
miserable	A tough-skinned, reddish-yellow fruit with many seeds inside
hospitality	Feeling depressed, very sad
a pomegranate	The strap tied to a horse’s head for controlling it

 

While Reading

1. Scanning (= quick reading for pieces of information)
1. Who was the god of the Underworld?
2. What was another name for the Underworld?
3. Who was the goddess of agriculture (growing crops)?
4. What was her daughter called?
5. What is the name of the river that divides the earth from the Underworld?
6. Who was the fastest of the gods, their messenger?
2. What did Pluto find most difficult about his life?
3. How did the trees react when Pluto snatched Persephone?
4. What two things did the River Styx do to help Persephone?
5. Why did Zeus feel worried when Demeter spoke to him?
6. What did Persephone eat in the Underworld? (Your answer should include a number.)
7. What did Zeus decide? (Use the word should in your answer.)
8. List three or four ways that Demeter shows her sadness during the winter.

Vocabulary

1. Arrange the following words into two groups. (How did you choose the groups?)

bright    dismal    laughing    dark    gloomy

warm    cheerful    in despair    cold    sunny    lonely

2. Arrange the following words into three groups. (How did you choose the groups?)

whispered    bawled    sobbed    murmured    demanded

declared    cried    announced    pleaded