Exploring Beauty and Perception Through Helen of Troy
Delve into the ephemeral nature of beauty as depicted through Helen of Troy in various literary works and artworks. Analyze the portrayal of Helen as a symbol of transient beauty and its impact on society's perception of women.
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Lesson 4 Helen of Troy
Passing beauties are only the fugitive reflections of the eternal. All beauty alters and all life melts away; in short, everything passes with marvelous rapidity; beautiful Helen of Troy has become a toothless skull, then a handful of dust, then nothing. Eliphas Levi Read the quotation. 1. 2. Explain what point the writer is making about beauty. Why do you think the writer has chosen to write about Helen of Troy in this quotation? What does this suggest about her? Stretch: Explain the meaning of the following phrase: Passing beauties are only the fugitive reflections of the eternal.
Helen of Troy was described by the poet Christopher Marlowe as, The face that launched a thousand ships . What does this imply about her? Be prepared to: Write at least two sentences Use the word moreover Stretch: Analyse the use of language in the quotation and how it creates an impression of character.
Watch the clip. What impression are we given of Helen of Troy in both the painting? Is this fair? What impression does it give of women in Ancient Greece?
Read the poem Beautiful by Carol Ann Duffy. What do you notice about the poem? How is Helen of Troy portrayed? How are the men in the poem portrayed? Select and copy three quotations from the poem to use in a response for your ME Time task.
Beautiful by Carol Ann Duffy She was born from an egg, a daughter of the gods, divinely fair, a pearl drop-dead gorgeous, beautiful, a peach, a child of grace, a stunner, in her face the starlike sorrows of immortal eyes. Who looked there, loved. She won the heart of every man she saw. They stood in line, sighed, knelt, beseeched Be Mine. She married one, But every other mother s son swore to be true to her till death, enchanted by the perfume of her breath, her skin s celebrity. So when she took a lover, fled, Was nowhere to be seen, her side of the bed unslept in, cold, the small coin of her wedding ring left on the bedside table like a tip, the wardrobe empty of the drama of her clothes, it was War.
A thousand ships on every one a thousand men, each heaving an oar, each with her face before his stinging eyes, her name tattooed upon the muscle of his arm, a handkerchief she d dropped once for his lucky charm, each seeing her as a local girl made good, the girl next door, a princess with the common touch, queen of his heart, pin-up, superstar, the heads of every coin he d tossed, the smile on every note he s best at cards bragged and shoved across a thousand miles of sea. Beauty is fame. Some said she turned into a cloud and floated home falling there like rain, or tears upon her husband s face. Some said her lover woke to find her gone, his sword and clothes gone too, before they sliced a last grin in his throat.
Some swore they saw her smuggled on a boat dressed as a boy, rowed to a ship which slid away at dusk, beckoned by the finger of the moon. Some vowed that they were in the crowd that saw her hung, stared up at her body as it swung there on the creaking rope, and noticed how the black silk of her dress clung to her form, a stylish shroud. Her maid, who loved her most, refused to say one word to anyone at any time or place, would not describe one aspect of her face or tell anyone about her life and loves. But lived alone and kept a little bird inside a cage.
Helen of Troy How is Helen of Troy presented in the poem Beautiful by Carol Ann Duffy? How are men presented in the poem? What: Helen of Troy is presented as Quote: How: By using .. the poet implies
How do you feel about Helen of Troy? Do you think she was abducted by Paris or do you think she went willingly with him? Produce a short monologue from Helen of Troy s perspective explaining how she would like to be remembered by history.
