Please do
send in
your own
stories to
fuse@pote
ntialplusu
k.org
Activity:
STORYWRITING
USING MYTHS
In the last FUSE (Summer 2015) we learned from author and
illustrator Gillian McClure how to build a captivating storyline
using the power of pictures.
This time we plunge into a mythological world and create
our own 'epic' endings to a dark tale! Using actual characters
from Greek mythology, The Golden Lyre was specially written
for us by Sarah Box, Associate Editor of SPARK e-zine.
If you prefer gentler tales, postpone the next two
pages and stay with us here. -The lyre (harp) in the
main story is represented by the star constellation
Lyra. Instead of reading The Golden Lyre,, you could
write your own funny story or wise fable about
how Orpheus's harp is needed by the neighbouring
constellations; strong Hercules, the huge swan
Cygnus and even Vulpecula the little fox.
Introduction
by Sarah Box
In✸the✸mythology✸of✸ancient✸Greece,✸
Demeter,✸the✸Greek✸goddess✸of✸harvest,✸✸
✸✸✸and✸Zeus,✸king✸of✸the✸gods,✸had✸a✸✸
✸✸✸✸✸daughter✸named✸Persephone✸
✸✸✸✸(per-sef-on-ee).✸One✸day✸as✸
Persephone✸gathered✸flowers,✸she✸
was✸captured✸by✸Hades,✸god✸of✸the✸
Underworld.✸Heartbroken,✸Demeter✸
could✸no✸longer✸wield✸her✸powers✸to✸
help✸nature’s✸bounty✸grow✸and✸so✸famine✸
spread✸across✸the✸world.✸
Persephone✸refused✸to✸eat✸in✸the✸
Underworld✸but✸Hades✸tricked✸her✸into✸
eating✸a✸pomegranate✸seed✸to✸ease✸
her✸hunger.✸As✸a✸result✸of✸this✸trick,✸
Persephone✸must✸spend✸every✸winter✸
under✸the✸earth✸with✸Hades.✸
Her✸mother✸Demeter✸mourns✸her✸
daughter’s✸loss✸every✸year✸and✸so✸the✸
winter✸cycle✸returns.✸Humans✸revered✸
Persephone✸as✸the✸powerful✸
goddess✸of✸a✸forbidding✸world.✸
Hades✸enjoyed✸the✸harp✸
sounds✸played✸by✸the✸
musician✸Orpheus✸(hero✸
of✸the✸story✸Orpheus✸
and✸Eurydice)✸on✸his✸
lyre.✸Zeus✸honoured✸his✸
musical✸talent✸by✸placing✸
the✸harp✸into✸the✸skies✸
as✸the✸constellation✸
Lyra.✸That✸harp✸makes✸
an✸appearance✸in✸this✸
story...✸
FUSE
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