Atalanta Essay, Research Paper

I. Summary of the Story

Atlanta

Her father had wanted a son, and when Atalanta was born, he rejected her and ordered to put her out on the mountains, and let her die. So the servants put her out on the mountains. There a she-bear came along, and took a a fancy to the strange little thing, and fed her with her own milk. By and by some haunters passed that way, and found her, and saved her, and brought her up.

She became a hard woman, like her hard father, and like the hard life she was force to lead. She cared for no wild beast of the forest. Even when two terrible Centaurs attacked her, she cared nothing, but killed them both. When she grew up, she found out her father, and came to live in his house. She made a great name for herself, in running and wrestling and other manly sports; she even wrestled with Peleus, and beathim. She must have been a handful to manage; so her father soon became tired of her, and did his best to find a husband who would relieve him of his troublesome daugther. At first she would not hear of a husband; but at last she agreed, on certain condition.

The condition were, that if anyone wanted to marry her, he must ran a race with her, if he lost the race, he was to lose his life. But she was so beautiful, that many young man were willing to try, even on those terms; many did try, and failed, and they were put to death.

One young man, named Milanion, a fine young fellow laugh at this because accdg. To him there are plenty of girls in the country and he will not risk his neck for one, no matter how beautiful she may be. So, some young men invite him to the next race, as if he have not seen her and he come along with them.

There they stood at the starting post: Atalanta, like Artemis herself, as beautiful and as hard; Accdg. To other books, she wear a shining buckle clasped her robe around her neck; her hair was simply dressed, caught in a knot behind. An ivory quiver hung upon her left shoulder and in her hand was a bow. Thus was she attired. As for her face, it seemed too maidenly to be that of a boy, and too boyish to be that of a maiden ? that was she looked like. And the young man, full of strenght and grace, and confident that he would win. Off they went: he was quick on his feet, but nothing to Atalanta, who sped off like the wind, and easily came in first. Then the young man was led off to his death.

But you wouldbelieve it, no sooner Milanion set eyes on Atalanta, then he fell in love as deeply as the rest. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful as Atalanta, and on the spot he declared that he would try his luck. Atalanta herself was sorry, as she saw this fine young man. Somehow she fell in love with Milanion too, and she did her best to dissuade him. Why she did not accept him at once, if she liked him, I do not know; but perhaps she felt that it would make her look small before the world, and she did not really love him enough, as yet. So a day was fixed for the new race. Milanion was not quite so cheerful when he got away. He did not feel so sure he would win; and now that he could not see her, he did not feel so sure she was worth it. But he felt he could not back out of the challenge. Then he prayed to the goddess Aphrodite to help him, and she heard his prayer; for she did not like this hard maiden, who made light to the goddess of love. She had a wonderful tree in her grove, which bore golden apples; three of these apples she picked, and gave them to Milanion, and told him what to do.

The day came. There were crowd of people to see the race: the king was there, with his court; Atalanta was there, girl in a short tunic, like Artemis, and ready to run. Milanion came, with the golden apples tucked into the corner of his tunic. They made rather a bulge, but no one noticed it in all that excitement.

The two runners stood at the starting-point: the signal was given?they were off. Atalanta did not run as swiftly as usual, for her own heart weekened a little, to see this beautiful young man running for his life. For a little time, they ran neck and neck; but the ardour of the race took hold of Atalanta, and she shot ahead.

Then Milanion pulled out one of his apples, and rolled it ahead to Atalanta. She caught sight of the bright thing, and hesitated, and stopped in her course to pick it up. Milanion passed her, and sped away at ful of speed. But Atalanta tucked her apple into her bosom, and off she went again; she soon passed Milanion, and left him behind her. Now Milanion pulled out another apple out another apple, and sent it rolling a little to one side. Once more Atalanta saw the apple, and darted away from the course to pick it up; once more Milanion ran ahead, and at this time he gained a good deal of ground.

But the pace was telling on Milanion. He began to pant, and his breath came dry from his throat; run as he would, he would not keep ahead, and now he took out his last apple. This time, he threw it as hard as he could, right away to one side, but so that Atalanta could see it. And as before, Atalanta darted in pursuit, and ran right out of the course until she was able to catch it, and tucked it way with the rest.

They were not yet at the end of the race, and Atalanta began to gain Milanion, but Aphrodite was watching, unseen, and she made the apples grow heavier and heavier, until Atalanta felt as if she were carrying a weight of lead in her bosom. She went slower and slower, and Milanion kept ahead, and won the race.

Then there were great rejoicings, and Atalanta was no less pleased than the rest, although she did not say much about it. So they were married, and they deserved to live hapily ever after, but unluckily they did not. For they gave offence to Zeus, and he turned them into a pair of lions. Perhaps after all, Atalanta was more happy as a lioness than she would have been as a woman, but I do not know longer her side of the story, because she could no longer tell it.

II. Characters of the story

A. Major Characters

Atalanta

Daugther of King Schoeneus of Boetian. A woman raised by a she-bear and soon the hunters. She is defined as a manlike, cold- hearted and known for her bravery and strenght that made her more lovelier and more desirable than any other women aside for beautiful face.

Milanion

Son of Amphidamas, a fine young man who fell in love with Atalanta and soon marry her because of Aphrodite?s help.

Aphrodite

The goddes of love and beauty, Roman counter part Venus. She helped Milanion to win the footrace in order to marry Atalanta.

B. Minor Characters

Zeus

Supreme diety in Greek mythology. Roman counter part, Jupiter. He turned Atlanta and Milanion into a pair of lion because they violated the sanctuary.

King Peleus

King ofMyrmidons in Thessaly. A great hero Peleus was beaten up by Atalanta in a wrestling mania.

King Schoeneus

King of Boeotia. Biological father of Atalanta. Before, he wanted to have a son to establish the good reputation he maintain but when Atalanta was born, he ordered to put her on the mountains and let her die. But later, when Atalanta found him and lives with him- he was able to accept her so much because she was so famous and outstayed all masculine and sportsman events.

III. Settings of the story

Island of Beotia

Location were all this happens

IV. Comments

Atalanta is a classical mythology. It is unique because of it enables me to see one side of myself in the character of Atalanta. This story Tells about a hard woman who refused to marry a man who cannot outdistance her in a footrace. The most touching part for me was that when Atalanta was weakened by her own heart to see the young man running for his life(at the race). My favorite character in the story is Atalanta, because I saw a little side of me in her(maybe I?m just carried away). My most unwanted character was her father, King Shoeneus, because he never cares for her daughter at all, all he wants is fame, fame and fame-that?s why in the end he accept Atlanta.

My favorite lines was when King Schoeneus said ?What?s the use of a girl to me? Put her on the mountains and let her die?. The moral value of the story is probably don?t ever, ever take down a list of angers-?forgive and forget? as Atalanta did when she found her father.

IV. Recommendation

If you ask me to rate this beautiful story, I give it a rate of 10, because it just great? Maybe because it?s just natural for all myths. I truly recommend this for all teenagers-particularly for the girls because it just for us!(girls) ^o^x!.

Bibliography

al ye gods, W.H.D. Rouse,