Mythology: Gods and Mortals (SparkCharts)

By SparkNotes

Mythology: Gods and Mortals (SparkCharts) by Edith Hamilton
Making the reading experience fun!   When a paper is due, and dreaded exams loom, here's the lit-crit help students need to succeed! SparkNotes Literature Guides make studying smarter, better, and faster. They provide chapter-by-chapter analysis; explanations of key themes, motifs, and symbols; a review quiz; and essay topics. Lively and accessible, SparkNotes is perfect for late-night studying and paper writing.   Includes:

• An A+ Essay—an actual literary essay written about the Spark-ed book—to show students how a paper should be written.
• 16 pages devoted to writing a literary essay including: a glossary of literary terms
• Step-by-step tutoring on how to write a literary essay
• A feature on how not to plagiarize

• Language: English
• Publisher: SparkCharts
• Release date: Apr 9, 2014
• ISBN: 9781411471771

Reviews for Mythology

[zoes_human · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Edith Hamilton's Mythology is great reference to have on hand for broad overview of everything in Greek mythology. However, while very thorough, there is something about it that feels cramped, almost as though one had walked into a collection of mythology that was at the threshold of hoarding.Her storytelling style is fun, and her stories are peppered with useful and interesting tidbits about ancient Greek culture. The language, while a bit dated now, is nevertheless modern and accessible. Her wry sense of humor surfaces now and again, always leaving me wishing she'd allowed a bit more of it into the book.I've never been entirely clear why the bit about Norse mythology is included at the end. It's so simple as to be pointless. It would have been more interesting had she included an in-depth analysis of the differences between the two, rather than vaguely indicating that they were, indeed, culturally different in some ways.

[hamburgerclan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was into mythology for a spell way back in my grade school days. I read every mythology book we had in the school library, including this tome. I didn't recall anything specific about it save the name, which I have seen mentioned on and off through the years. Either Ms. Hamilton has a great press agent or she knows her stuff about mythology. Anyway, when I wanted to read a source book for The Argonaut Affair, it was a no brainer to pick this one up. I had really forgotten how good some of those stories are. And as an adult I could now also appreciate Ms. Hamilton's comments on mythology in general and the various sources she used to assemble her own book. While I couldn't quite share her enthusiasm for the subject, it was enjoyable to hear her lovingly present these tales from ancient Greece and Rome. (and a brief nod to Norse mythology) While my girls already have some great mythology books, written by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, I'm going to keep this one on my shelf for them as well.--J.

[edwardhenry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was planning to use this book to help study for my GRE in English test, but found it not terribly good for that purpose. The book is well-written and easy to read, and covers and summarizes most of the pertinent myths and legends of Greek and Roman literature--but it's too long to be a summary. If I didn't want to read the original to get a particular story, I would go here--but I think I'd much rather read Ovid or Homer, even if it is more challenging.

[merrymary_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For accuracy, deft comparisons, thoroughness of research, clarity of thought, and imaginative fluid writing, this is THE source for mythology. I have read and re-read this for years.

[wesh_17 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The companion volume to my 6th grade Latin grammar. If you have to read only one book to get up to speed on Greek & Roman mythology, this is the one.

[moonstruckeuphoria · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I didn't completely read through this entirely, half the fun and education was skimming through and relearning much of what I retained a few years back. I enjoyed how it was structured and how it basically took you back in time to that mysterious place of the minds of humanity. It brings you into a state of mind in which you can imagine the artists who created these figures and makes you feel like an anthropologist in the meantime.

[janemarieprice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a standard reference of mythology and the Greek and Roman gods. It is great for younger people who are getting interested in the subject and covers everything well.

[endersreads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I first read this book in my highschool Latin class--long ago when I thought I might have made it through a 2nd year of Latin. The dumbed-down sheeple of my society don't put any value on myths, or much of anything but psychotropics and entertainment. Something priceless lays here. These stories are extremely important to understanding ourselves, our past, our planispheres, and the future. Without sounding too Sitchin-like, I will simply say that these are the rememberances of the b'nai Elohim, amongst other things. Ms. Hamilton provides us an excellent place to start to understand our (un)reality. Don't drink too much of the Eleusian blue potion, and enjoy the illustrations. The myths of other cultures, times, and places await you; all holding a golden thread of uniformity.

[kushtaka9962 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Edith Hamilton really knew how to put things into perspective and dig deep into the world's mythology.

[mattries37315 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The stories of Greco-Roman gods and heroes permeate our culture in some form or another, in Edith Hamilton's anthological collection 'Mythology' all the original tales are presented in a concise and readable fashion for those discovering them for the first time.Taking her material from poems and plays from Greek and Roman writers, Hamilton structures the books chronologically through the various ages detailed in Greco-Roman mythology and keeping everything linked together through family relationships. At the beginning of every chapter Hamilton describes her process of choosing the source, or sources, of the tale giving the both the introductory reader and the knowledgeable one the basis for the next tale they are reading. The mythology of the Greco-Roman world and it's place in both Greek and Roman culture are described in general detail that gives the reader a sense of how each perceived the world around them.The minor inclusion of the Norse mythology at the end of the book was the biggest failing of the book, Hamilton gave cultural reasons for including but it felt both incomplete and an afterthought. Only Balder's story was discussed and nothing of the adventures of Thor or others.Edith Hamilton's lifetime of research and teaching of Greek and Roman poetry and plays results in a very readable book of Greco-Roman mythology. The book is definitely for casual readers along with those starting their journey into the overall world of Greco-Roman mythology and is not a substitute for reading The Iliad, The Odyssey, or The Aeneid. If you fall into either of these two categories I wholeheartedly recommend this book, but I would look somewhere else if you're interested in Norse mythology.

[dbabbp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Read it in college, many times over. Good background for direct and implied mythological references. Wish I still had it.

[bfertig_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Classic mythology told as stories. Consider reading this as basic education to be able to recognize the infinite references to the ancient stories used in everyday life and modern story telling (including movies, tvs, plays, music, etc.) - though I am probably stating the obvious. This gives a solid grounding in the mythos of western civilizations.

[aethercowboy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In what is quite possibly one of the best, or at least, most renowned book on Greco-Roman mythology, Hamilton has presented here in an easy-to-digest format the high points of what happened on Mt. Olympus (and why it didn't stay on Mt. Olympus).It's by no means exhaustive, but is otherwise a very informative source to get your feet wet in the world of Greco-Roman mythology. Additionally, it's a place to get your feet ever-so-slightly damp in the world of Norse mythology, as the section covering such seems more an afterthought than an appendix than an actual resource on the complex system that is Norse mythology.If you're looking into the Greco-Roman, this is a great book to at least start, and at most, to complete that collection. If you're looking into the Norse, I'd recommend this book only if you can't manage to find any others about the topic.

[ebonyhaywood_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Hmm. Wasn't really thrilled with this book. I found it to be a bit dry and boring. Hamilton has a way of cramming so much plot into each story. Consequently, something is lost in translation...

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

More of a textbook than anything. She managed to make some wonderful tales dry and boring. Good as resource material, but very dry, academic reading.

[rampaginglibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hamilton is really easy to read, she's the text we used in high school to introduce us to "Julius Ceasar" (?!) A great introductory text. I still refer to it.

[neferemi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one my my childhood favorites. I have a paperback copy that has accompanied me through life from age seven.

[justagirlwithabook · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Edith Hamilton provides a good overview of mythology and all the basics. This used to be required reading for 8th graders (to teach) but it has since been pushed to the side, which I was quite happy about. It's a bit much for 8th graders in many ways and there's a point where you have to put the book down and read some other things because it's one mythological tale after the other and quite dense.

[sherlockhomeboy-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A classic, but hella dry

[hermit_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an anthology of stories about Greco-Roman gods and heroes. The stories are very readable and the author had spent years of research into the subject matter. Though design as an introductory book on the subject it does give one a grasp of how these mighty figures were perceived in their time and still in some ways affect our own time. This book was a mandatory text book in the very early seventies and would still be relevant today. I have kept this in my library since I first read it and have gone back to read it from time to time..

[wenestvedt_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love you, Edith Hamilton. One of several copies that I lifted from Miss LaDuca's 1986-87 Cretin High School freshman english class.

[k8_not_kate · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If only to cover your bases for Trivial Pursuit and/or Jeopardy, this book is worth reading and keeping as a reference. It's been awhile since I read it in 9th grade as a preface to The Odyssey and Julius Caesar, but I remember it being a very easy-to-read, almost Cliff's Notes version of the stories of the Greek Gods. Even if you don't think you'll ever use the trivia, the stories are interesting enough to read for the sake of reading.

[drewandlori · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. Hamilton's tellings of Greek myth never get old for me.

[paulagraph · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I found Hamilton's Mythology adequate if not inspiring as a read rather than a reference text. (It has been on my bookshelf for many years) I will still use it to look up mythological references that I come across in poems or novels, but I'll go elsewhere I think, if the urge to read the mythological tales themselves should ever come upon me again.

[marse_4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Since the "stories" of the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses are not a single written tale, most authors of compilations of this sort piece together a narrative from various sources: plays, poems, oral tradition. Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless tales of Gods and Heroes is an OK summary of these tales. She prefaces each story with a list of various sources that tells of that god or hero, tells which source she based her retelling of it on and why she chose that particular source, as well as her opinion on that writer's literary prowess. Her retelling is straightforward and simple, it is not an artistic or literary retelling. If you are just interested in the 'facts' of the story, then this book is fine--not particularly inspiring, but sufficient. She does not quote from original sources, though she does name them. Her reasons for using one source over another is neither academic nor very enlightening. It's a good reference for looking up the relationship of gods to each other, their basic stories, and which Classical authors wrote on these themes.

[dbsovereign · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For just breezing through with the essentials and some scary detail, Hamilton is fine. Also, some great, if somewhat campy [now] illustrations.

[summer_missfictional · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Read this for English class. For greek-mythology lovers like me, it gave quite a good explanation of numerous myths and clarifies the big pictures of Norse, Roman, and Greek mythology. A bit too heavy to read in one sitting, but an excellent reference for fans of the genre. I wouldn't say this is a must-read, but definitely beneficial for a devoted reader.

[courtney.francis · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book provides stories of the famous Gods of mythology, theirstories and history.The chapters are separated by Classical mythology: Gods, creation, and the earliest heroes : stories of love andadventure : heroes before the Trojan War : heroes of the Trojan War :great families of mythology : less important myths : mythology of theNorseman. The book hass illustrations and genelogical charts of themythological Gods.

[carebear36 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book if you are interested in Greek and Roman mythology. Hamilton does an excellent job of combining a great deal of information from a great deal of sources into one book. The only critique I have about this book is that I really did not like how she set up the Norse section. It felt like an afterthought and her tone when describing it was very dismissive. Her writing on the subject felt like something she wasn't actually interested in, but her editor or something made her include the section anyway. Other than this, Hamilton's book is a perfect condensed version of a complex system of Greek and Roman mythological stories.

[mykl8s · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 -the first reference book for classical mythology and the Norse myths