Tag Archives: Folklore

Comprehension Questions – Goddess Girls #10 Pheme the Gossip

Pheme the Gossip

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Grades 3-7; Genre - Mythology/Folklore; GRL S-T; AR pts. 5.0

As the goddess girl of rumor and gossip, Pheme prides herself on being "in the know" and having the most up-to-date info on anyone and everyone at Mount Olympus Academy.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. What part of speech is, “being caught red handed”? Idiom
  2. Use this phrase in your own sentence. “His mom caught him red handed, reaching into the cookie jar.”

Chapter 2

  1. Summarize this chapter. Pheme couldn’t make the red go away and stuck her hands in her pockets; she bumped into Athena and her friends; she ran outside and met the boy who stowed away on Hermes cart p.24

Chapter 3

  1. Describe Pheme. One of 13 kids; has red hair; is a goddess; has a gift of spreading rumors; when she speaks, the words puff out of her mouth and float above her head; works in the office of the school; is the floor monitor for her floor; is always looking for gossip to spread; snoops in rooms to find gossip; wants to be chosen to write in the Scrollazine magazine p.40

Chapter 4

  1. Would you trust Pheme to keep your secret? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 5

  1. Is Pheme being a good friend to Phaeton in this chapter? Why, or why not? No; she’s only helping him to help herself, selfish motives; he doesn’t want people to know who his father is and she’s telling everyone p.86

Chapter 6

  1. Describe Athena’s attitude toward Pheme for reading her diary. She forgives her and won’t tell her dad p.115

Chapter 7

  1. Summarize this chapter. Pheme saw Phaeton using Artemis’s chariot and couldn’t tell her because of the no gossip spell Athena put on her p.120

Chapter 8

  1. How did Pheme manipulate the teacher to let her keep her notebook with her drawing? She lied and said it was part of her assignment; she incorporated it into her project p.153

Chapter 9

  1. Why did Pheme decide she needed to tell Zeus about Phaeton? She was worried about Earth getting destroyed; she stopped being concerned for herself p.180

Chapter 10

  1. How are Athena and Pheme showing signs of friendship? They are helping each other and watching out for each other p.193

Chapter 11

  1. What gave Pheme courage to help Phaeton? Athena’s gratitude from the time Pheme saved her p.209
  2. Do you have an experience you look back on that helps give you courage or strength? Explain. Listen to your child’s answer 

Chapter 12

  1. Do you agree with Eros that gossip is necessary? Why, or why not? Good news is good, but gossip is not good; gossiping hurts people’s feelings and they don’t trust you anymore p.230

Chapter 13

  1. How did Pheme show courage in this chapter? She told Zeus everything p.234

Epilogue 

  1. Summarize this ending. Pheme was asked to be the writer for the gossip column p.251

Comprehension Questions – Goddess Girls #9 Pandora the Curious

Pandora the Curious

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Grades 3-7; Genre - Mythology/Folklore; GRL S-T; AR pts. 5.0

Pandora's curious nature makes it difficult for her to not take a peek in the mysterious and dangerous box brought to school by Epimetheus, which causes far more trouble than anyone could have imagined.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe Pandora. A mortal who goes to MOA; she has bangs in the shape of question marks; she’s very curious p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Why shouldn’t Pandora have opened the box? It wasn’t hers; she should have asked first p.14
  2. Describe Athena at the end of the chapter. She wasn’t herself; she didn’t care about science or the competition; she was painting her nails and reading a magazine; she didn’t know who a famous mortal scientist was anymore p.28

Chapter 3

  1. Why did Pandora’s classmates and principal think she was annoying? She asks a lot of questions all the time p.49

Chapter 4

  1. Define the word vain. having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth.
  2. Predict what has happened to Athena and Artemis. Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 5

  1. Are you correct in your prediction? Why, or why not? Listen to your child’s answer

Chapter 6

  1. Summarize the science project Pandora and her partners are doing? “What effect will adding heroes to the game board have on Earth?” They’re making heroes and a dog to add to the game board and are going to ask mortals on Earth what they need p.88

Chapter 6

  1. Summarize this chapter. Pandora and the Titans went to earth in a u-fire balloon; they found out the mortals needed fire and were blamed for not having any p.90

Chapter 7

  1. Why does Pandora think the Titans are using the box of bubbles like a Trojan horse? Zeus defeated them and sent them to the Underworld; the Titans could be trying to weaken Zeus and the Olympians p.117

Chapter 8

  1. Summarize how Pandora convinced Aphrodite that something was going on with her friends. She showed her evidence of how her friends were different p.30

Chapter 9

  1. Summarize what happened in the Titan’s room? Aphrodite was hit by a bubble and became rude, making songs with her armpit and by burping; Pandora became defensive; Prometheus was hit with a bubble and became a thief p.150

Chapter 10

  1. What’s the plan to get the bubble box back? Sneak into Zeus’s office and find it p.165

Chapter 11

  1. Why did Zeus punish Prometheus? He started the hero-ology room on fire p.190

Chapter 12

  1. Summarize how “hope” is solving the bubble problem. The hope bubble is touching the people affected by the trouble bubbles; the bubble says, “hope” and the trouble bubble materializes and goes into the box p.164

Chapter 13

  1. Summarize this chapter. Pandora tricked the lazy bubble, and it finally came out of Zeus; she explained what happened to Zeus; Zeus gave the history of the box; Zeus took away Prometheus’ punishment and took the boys to see their dad p.222

Chapter 14

  1. What does Pandora mean when she’s realized Epimetheus “got” her? Understood and liked her for who she is p.246

Comprehension Questions – Goddess Girls #3 Aphrodite the Beauty

Aphrodite the Beauty

Grades 3-7; Genre - Mythology/Folklore; GRL T; AR pts. 3.0

After giving Athena a makeover, Aphrodite becomes jealous of her friend but focuses on figuring out how to help a mortal win a race against Atalanta, which will result in either their marriage or his death.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize the introduction. Aphrodite is tired of the attention she gets from boys; Athena shows interest in receiving attention from boys; Aphrodite wants to give Athena a makeover p.1

Chapter 2

  1. List two ways Athena showed she’s interested in getting a makeover. She took notes; she wanted to learn more about beauty; she seemed excited when Aphrodite was finished p.17

Chapter 3

  1. What’s the definition of “jealousy”? A feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone you want.
  2. Explain why Aphrodite was feeling jealous in this chapter. She had made Athena look beautiful and was jealous Ares was giving Athena his attention p.39

Chapter 4

  1. Summarize this chapter. Aphrodite took the dogs out and met Hippomenes; she told him she’d help him beat Atalanta to earn her hand in marriage; she met Hephaestus p.49

Chapter 5

  1. How is Athena a good friend in this chapter? She stands up for Aphrodite; she tries to make Aphrodite feel better p.76

Chapter 6

  1. Did Aphrodite have a reason to be angry at Athena? Why, or why not? No; Athena didn’t tell anyone about the roses p.92

Chapter 7

  1. Is Aphrodite a good friend to Hephaestus? Why, or why not? No, she’s embarrassed to be with him; she doesn’t care about his feelings and is worried more about how she will look if seen with him p.104

Chapter 8

  1. How did Aphrodite set things right with Athena? They talked honestly and were respectful to each other p.117

Chapter 9

  1. Describe how the golden apples helped Hippomenes win the race? He threw them in front of Atalanta one at a time, and she couldn’t resist their beauty, so she picked them up p.133

Chapter 10

  1. Is it ok that Aphrodite wants to start a rumor about someone else? Why, or why not? No; gossiping hurts feelings and is selfish p.143

Chapter 11

  1. Summarize this story. Aphrodite and her friends ordered flowers for Medusa and said they were from Ares; the friends purchased snacks; things were back from to normal and Aphrodite said she’d dance with the centaur p.146

Comprehension Questions – Goddess Girls #2 Persephone the Phony

Persephone the Phony

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Grades 3-6; Genre - Mythology/Folklore; GRL V; AR pts. 2.0

Developing a crush on bad-boy Hades despite the disapproval of her mother and friends, Persephone sneaks around to pursue the relationship until Hades convinces her to tell the truth.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Describe how Persephone feels like a phony in this chapter? She isn’t voicing her real opinions and just going along with her friends p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Is Persephone usually herself around other people? Why, or why not? No, she feels like she has to do what they want and tell them what they want to hear p.17

Chapter 3

  1. Why is Persephone lying to her mom? Do you agree with her choices? Why, or why not? She knows her mom won’t approve if she hangs around Hades; listen to your child’s answer p.33

Chapter 4

  1. Why do you think Persephone’s are friends being so protective? They don’t like Hades p.46

Chapter 5

  1. How is Persephone rebellious in this chapter? She said no to her friends and didn’t go along with them p.57 

Chapter 6

  1. Why does Persephone feel good around Hades? He likes her for who she is; he’s easy to talk to and she can be herself p.68

Chapter 7

  1. How did Hades not meet Persephone’s expectations? He wasn’t happy to see her and didn’t like that she came to see him p.90

Chapter 8

  1. Name something Persephone learned in this chapter. Being angry isn’t who she is; strong friendships can survive outbursts or bad moods; her friends like her the way she is p.98

Chapter 9

  1. How is Persephone a good friend in this chapter? She apologizes for getting angry and admits she is wrong, and Hades is right p.116

Chapter 10

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Hades and Persephone go to the dance together; Ares tries to pick a fight and Aphrodite disrupts the exchange; Hades tells Zeus Ares was just showing him boxing moves and Ares starts to respect Hades p.122

Comprehension Questions – Goddess Girls #23 Medea the Enchantress

Medea the Enchantress

by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams

Grades 3-7; Genre - Mythology/Folklore; GRL 790L; AR pts. 5.0

Princess Medea joins a boy named Jason and the crew of the "Argo" on a quest for the Golden Fleece.

Comprehension Questions

Chapter 1

  1. Summarize the introduction to this story. Medea lives at home with her father and aunt; she overheard her aunt, Circe, prophesy a boy would try to steal her father’s Golden Fleece as well as steal her heart; Circe suggests Medea go with her to Mount Olympus Academy but her dad didn’t want her to; Medea is confident her aunt will convince her father so she started packing p.1

Chapter 2

  1. Describe Medea and Glauce’s relationship. Glauce pretends to be Medea’s friend, but she isn’t a very good one; she embarrasses her, insults her, makes her feel bad about herself; Medea calls her a frenemy because Glauce is sometimes her friend and sometimes her enemy p.18

Chapter 3

  1. Describe the assignment given in class and how it works? The students are assigned a hero and get to help or hinder a quest; the heroes are little statues, and the map is the world the humans live on; there are also little human statues that are real on earth; the statues were commanded by Circe to choose someone in the class to run them on the game board p.46

Chapter 4

  1. Describe the quest. Jason wants to get back his father’s kingdom and needs to steal the Golden Fleece p.79
  2. What mythological story is this? Jason and the Argonauts 

Chapter 5

  1. Summarize this chapter. Medea and Glauce find themselves in the sea and get pulled aboard the Argos; Jason doesn’t trust them and throws their wands overboard; they go to Lemnos and after lunch starts toward Colchis; Medea is trying to come up with a plan to stop Jason; she wants to poke Jason with a mini arrow so he looks at Glauce and falls in love with her, then she can convince Glauce to stop him from getting her father’s Golden Fleece p.92

Chapter 6

  1. What is Jason’s talent? Good leader; p.135
  2. What makes that a talent? Good leadership creates a good team and a successful quest

Chapter 7

  1. 1. Describe the Symplegades. Two large blue rocks the ship needs to sail through; the rocks will smash them as they sail through p.154

Chapter 8

  1. Why did Medea help Jason? She poked herself with the mini arrow and now she’s crushing on him p.169

Chapter 9

  1. What is the definition of cheating? act dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage, especially in a game or examination.
  2. Did Jason and his friends cheat to get the fleece? Yes, he was supposed to do the tasks alone, but they helped him p.205

Chapter 10

  1. Describe her father’s reaction when Medea told her dad everything. He realized he was too attached to his cape and was just grateful his daughter was safe p.226

Chapter 11

  1. Describe how Glauce was hurting Medea and why she won’t hurt her again? Glauce was not a good friend to Medea; Medea realized her relationship with Glauce was toxic so she stood up to her and didn’t let Glauce ruin her confidence; now that she recognizes what Glauce is doing, she can protect herself and create boundaries p.249

Chapter 12

  1. Summarize the conclusion to this story. Medea is given permission to board at school and Arete is her roommate; Pheme wrote an accurate story about the quest; Medea is in the Magicasters club and her father is trusting her more p.250