Prometheus Steals Fire From HeavenAuthor – Shortened, Simplified version of real story. Author UnknownI. Setting:The setting for the story Prometheus Steals Fire From Heaven is Inheaven, Earth, Olympus, and Mt. Caucasus. The time period is that of when therewere only the (Greek) gods, and no men on earth, and none of the animals seemedworthy to rule the rest. Point of View:Omniscient point of viewIII. Characters:Zeus – Zeus is the ruler of the universe. At one point in the story Zeus wasJealous of others’ powers. Zeus also had a bad temper and was mad at Prometheusfor stealing heavens fire and chained Prometheus high on Mt. Caucasus, forever. He is one of 2 antagonists in the story.
Hera – Queen of heaven, no significant part in story. Prometheus – The major protagonist in the story. Prometheus was one of theTitans (parents of the gods). He always thought of the positive side of things,and never let anyone or thing phase him. He proudly endured pain and showed hisagony to none, all for inferior humans. Epimetheus – A minor part in the story. Epimetheus was the brother ofPrometheus. Hephaestus – This minor character is heaven’s lame smith. His part is somewhatsignificant later in the story, but he has no say in what he does, even if it iswrong. Pandora – Pandora was made by Zeus. She was made to curb man’s power. Asbeautiful as a goddess, the immortals bestowed gifts on her to make her morecaptivating. Pandora is the 2nd antagonist in the story.
ThemeThe hero’s mission is to create a man like figure on the Earth, with thepower of fire. Pandora accidentally opened a jar full of disease, envy, revenge,spite, and other evils which went on man, down on the earth, but she closed it. The only thing left in it was hope. That is all man had now – hope. Prometheuscompleted his mission, even though he was chained up on the side of the mountainand tormented the rest of his life. PlotThere was a time when there was no gods, and Heaven and Earth aloneexisted. From their union sprung the Titans, and the children of the Titans,the gods rebelled and overthrew them. Now there was no men on Earth soPrometheus had a task of making one. He mixed clay with water, kneaded it,shaped it, and made it look rather god like in shape. He made it stand uprightso man could look up at the stars, as opposed to down on the Earth, like theanimals.
Now Prometheus had to give man gifts to make him superior to all theanimals. Unfortunately, his brother Epimetheus already had given all the greatgifts to the animals, and there was nothing left for man. Then Prometheusthought of a great idea, that would enable man to make weapons, tools, masterthe arts, protect them from nature, and slay beasts, among other things. SoPrometheus lit his torch at the chariot of the sun, and went back down to Earth. Zeus was mad because the human was a great match for the animals on earth, andperhaps even for the gods, so he made woman, lovely as a goddess. All the godsgave her gifts to make her even better. She was named Pandora – Gift of All.
Epimetheus was enchanted with Pandora so he took her into his home, where he hada jar with certain gifts that he had never given out to animals, and e warnedher to stay far away from that jar. She thought it would do no harm if she justpeeked in to see what was there, but as soon as she did, out came a host of evilplagues, and all manner of disease, envy, spite, revenge, and they spread outfar and wide. She quickly clapped on the lid only to find it almost completelyempty. Only hope had remained — hope which never leaves mankind. Zeus was nolonger worried about the power of mankind but he was furious because Prometheushad stole heaven’s fire. Zeus summoned Hephaestus who was heavens lame smith.
Prometheus was chained on the top of Mt. Caucasus, where a vulture would prey onhis liver, and it would grow back as fast as it was devoured. Prometheus nevergroaned or regretted what he did, and he lay proud on the mountain, enduring thepain and suffering forever (and for the pride of mankind.)VI. Analysis of the HeroPrometheus was a very determined person. I believe this because he wentthrough the trouble of stealing the fire from heaven, just for some animals(humans). I also think that Prometheus was clever. It even said in the book”Quick-witted Prometheus” but that is not the whole reason. He is cleverbecause even after his brother had given all of the gifts he could think of tothe other animals, Prometheus thought of fire to give to the humans. Prometheuswas proud of what he did, because at the end of the story he did not regret whathad happened, even though he was chained up at the top of the mountain to betortured. Prometheus is also very kind.
He warned his brother about the evilPandora, but his brother didn’t listen, and the consequences were not good atall. One negative trait of Prometheus is that he didn’t realize what theconsequences would be from stealing the fire from heaven. He just took it, andwent away rejoicing. I can’t think of a name for this trait, maybe half-witted,eventhough he was very intelligent. ConflictsPerson vs. Person: Zeus was Jealous of Prometheus and his power tocreate man, and to steal the fire from heaven. He ultimately avenged this”crime” by having Prometheus chained to the top of Mt. Caucasus to be torturedfor a long time. The conflict here would be Zeus vs. Prometheus.
Person vs. Society: Prometheus stole fire from heaven and the godsdidn’t like that one bit. They were perhaps a society and they disagreed withPrometheus when he did what he did. The conflict is Prometheus vs. The GodsPerson vs. Nature: The humans that Prometheus was creating had nospecial talents because the gifts were all given to the other animals, forexample: Wings, Claws, Scales, etc. How were the humans supposed to be superiorto the rest of creation when nature was greater? That is the Person vs. Nature- Man vs. the other animals.
There are many things a person can gain from reading a myth. The values,morals, and the theme can effect a person and they can use the story (or myth)as an example to be a better person or to think about what they do, before theyconsider the consequences. I can gain knowledge from reading a myth such asthis, for example the word hope. This is explained a great deal in the storyand I have a better understanding of it. I also can look at what Prometheus didand think about what I do before I do it so that in the end, I don’t get hurt(or screwed).
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