Atalanta

1. Atalanta By: Jennifer Langan, Amy Halbing, Catherine Settin, and Jacob Delli Colli

2. Atalanta’s Childhood • Father was disappointed that she was a girl • Abandoned her on a mountainside • Raised by bears until infancy • She was then found and raised by kind hunters

3. Atalanta’s Appearance • “Too maidenly to be that of a boy, and too boyish to be that of maiden”

4. Heroic Qualities vs. Flaws • Speed • Strength • Fearlessness • Remains calm under pressure • Self confident • Hard headed • Not wanting to get married (bad at the time)

5. Fighting Centaurs • Once 2 centaurs saw Atalanta while she was alone and followed her • Instead of running she shot two arrows towards the centaurs • Both centaurs fell, wounded

6. Calydonian Boar Hunt • Atalanta is the only female chosen to help hunt • Some of the men refuse to hunt with her • Meleager falls in love with her & convinces others to let her hunt with them • Two men are attacked by a boar • Atalanta stays calm and shoots the boar with arrow

7. Calydonian Boar Hunt • Meleager finally kills the boar by stabbing it in the heart • But the kill is technically Atalanta’s, for delivering first hit • Meleager insisted that they should give the skin to Atalanta as the prize

8. About Meleager • At just a week old the Fates came to his mother (Althea) and threw a log into fire burning in her chamber • “To you, O new-born child, we grant a gift, To live until this wood turns into ash.” • His mother then took the log and put out the flame. She then hid it in a chest • After the boar hunt Meleager killed his two uncles because they thought the skin shouldn’t go to a girl • Once Althea received the news she threw the brand into the fire out anger and her son fell to the floor and died

9. Reunion with Father • Atalanta discovered who her parents were and went to live with them • Her father finally approved of her • To him, Atalanta almost seemed to be as good as a son

10. Getting Married • Atalanta agreed that she would marry whoever could beat her in a foot race (no man had ever won before) • Melanion/Hippomenes had possession of 3 magical apples of pure gold from Aphrodite. No one could resist the gold apples • One by one he threw the apples while running the race, she paused for each one • The third apple rolled into the grass next to the course. Atalanta couldn’t resist and went after it • As she was picking up the apple her future husband crossed the finish line

11. Motifs and Themes • Girls can do anything boys can do • Distraction may keep you from reaching success • Pride goes before a fall • Rags to riches

12. Major Archetypes Meleager • Victim (was hurt by someone he loves) • Fire archetypal symbol somewhat ironic because Meleager is killed by fire even though it represents life Melanion or Hippomenes • Trickster Atalanta • Hero • Warrior The Bears • The helpful animal (they were the ones who raised her after she was abandoned by her parents)

13. Helpers • Bear that raised Atalanta • Aphrodite for Hippomenes

14. Supernatural Intervention • Fates that predicted Meleager’s death • By the favor of Aphrodite, Melanion was able to find the golden apples • Aphrodite was always on the lookout to subdue wild, young maidens that despised love

15. Romance/Role of Women • Atalanta is against marriage • While she goes against most of the female stereotypes she also plays into them • easily distracted/duped by shiny objects (the apples)

16. Story Summation • Atalanta did not conform to gender stereotypes • Defeated boar and quickly rose to fame • Became full of herself and challenged anyone to beat her in a footrace for hand in marriage • Was duped and forced to marry Hippomenes/Melanion • Was later turned into Lion for disgracing Zeus

17. Lessons or Cultural Values in Story • Distractions can keep you from reaching your goals and dreams • You won’t always win at your own game • Atlanta went against gender roles from the beginning, but is then forced to accept the female role by getting married, having children, and stopping her adventures