Jason and the Argonauts: Quest for the Golden Fleece

Plot Diagram

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Characters

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Characterization

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Hero's Journey

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Essential Questions for Jason and the Argonauts

1. What is a hero? What kind of hero is Jason?
2. Think about the saying, "People do crazy things when they're in love." What do you think of Medea's actions?
3. How does the will of the gods come into play in this story?

King Pelias sends Jason away on what he believes is an impossible task, hoping that his quest will kill him. The voyage of the Argo is truly a unique journey. Rarely does such a number of great heroes show up at the same time! The ship itself is capable of prophecy due to the timber from one of Zeus' sacred trees, and offers advice to the Argonauts in their time of need. The Argo travels all over the known world, and even encounters some of the same dangers that Odysseus must face in the next generation of heroes. Just as with Odysseus' journey home from Troy, Jason and his crew get blown off course and take the long way home. The really long way.

Additional Activity Ideas

1. Compare the story of Jason and the Argonauts with the plot of The Odyssey and/or The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riodran.

2. Sometimes Medea seems like the hero because she solves problems. Is she a hero? Why or why not? Defend your position in a storyboard.

3. Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with many obstacles. While Jason does get the prize (the "elixir" as Campbell puts it), Jason's story beyond his heroic journey ends sadly. How would a plot diagram or timeline of Jason's life look?

4. What is so special about the Golden Fleece? Where did it come from? Create a plot diagram of the myth of Phrixos and Helle.

5. Show themes, symbols or motifs from the myth.