Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

David Almond

A Song For Ella Grey is a non-linear retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice set in contemporary Newcastle, from the point of view of Claire, Ella’s best friend and lover. Claire disapproves of Ella’s relationship with Orpheus, and is gradually left behind by Ella to witness their love and subsequent deaths. Claire and Ella are seventeen, and Orpheus is described as looking in his early twenties, though it is hinted that he may be much older.Part 1 – Present DayClaire is in love with(...)

literary

YEAR: 2014

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Eurydice Maenads Orpheus Snakes Underworld

Pascal Lemaitre, Slade Morrison, Toni Morrison

Poppy or the Snake? (Who’s Got Game?, 3)

Poppy or the Snake is set in the American Deep South. The little boy, Nate, has been spending the summer holidays with his grandfather Poppy, fishing, swimming, and picking blackberries. One night after summer Nate confesses that he doesn’t want to return to school. His grades are bad, his Dad calls him lazy, and his Mom says he can’t concentrate. In response, Poppy pulls out a pair of shiny boots, which he calls his remembering boots, that help him to pay attention. Nate is confused(...)

literary

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Aesop Aesop’s Fables Snakes

Yulian Kalisher, Nikolai Karetnikov , Yunna Morits

The Birth of Heracles [Рождение Геракла (Rozhdenie Gerakla)]

This is a stop-motion animation, it starts with the depiction of stars and constellations and a poem about the greatness of ancient Greeks who had exceptional astronomical knowledge. Story of Heracles is shown as a fable about stars. The movie centers on the conflict between Hera and Alcmene. Hera as a ruthless and almighty goddess wants to start a war between humans and gods. For this purpose she sends monsters to Earth (Hydra, Cerberus, the Nemean lion). At that time Alcmene gives birth t(...)

audiovisual

YEAR: 1982

COUNTRY: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

TAGS: Alcmene Centaur(s) Cerberus Chiron / Cheiron Hera Heracles Hercules Hydra Nemean Lion Snakes

Marcia Dorothy Williams

The Twelve Tasks of Heracles & Arion and the Dolphins

The main body of this short book is taken up with the labours of Heracles. Williams starts off with his origins as the child of Alcmene and Zeus, and the jealousy of Zeus’s wife, Hera, at her husband’s infidelity. Williams tells how, having failed to kill the baby Heracles by sending snakes to his cot, she turns the adult Heracles mad so that he kills his many children by an unnamed wife. After his wife sends him away due to his actions, he consults with a priestess who tells him tha(...)

literary

YEAR: 2017

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Arion (Poet) Cerberus Corinth Dolphins of Poseidon Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Hera Heracles Hydra Mycenae Nemean Lion Periander Snakes Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus