The story of Sisyphus is an ancient one - a mere mortal who dared to challenge the Gods by refusing to die. Using cunning and trickery, Sisyphus lived long after his predetermined fate. However, his wiles eventually caught up with him, and when he faced the Gods, Sisyphus received a punishment of difficult and futile labor. Please read about the story of Sisyphus here.
TASKS: Open a page in your notebook. As you read through the story of Sisyphus from the above link, please complete the tasks embedded within the text. These tasks will ask you to define words, draw inferences, make guesses, and come to conclusions. The tasks are numbered 1-13 within the story.
Recall now the introduction you previously read about Absurdism. Sisyphus is, indeed, THE absurd hero, for one can only ask of his hard toils, "What is the point?"
French philosopher Albert Camus (whom you may read about in greater detail here) addresses the plight of Sisyphus in his brief article entitled "The Myth of Sisyphus." Please read the article by clicking here. You may want to print this out and highlight it.
TASKS: In your notebook, please complete the following:
1. Define the following words and phrases: prudent, futile, levity, benediction, impudent, consciousness, proletarian, surmounted, melancholy, Gethsemane, Oedipus, myriad, negate.
2. Write an essay in which you determine whether Sisyphus is truly happy, as Camus claims him to be. Aim for one full handwritten page in your notebook.
TASKS: Cartoon Analysis: Each of the cartoons below contains an allusion (a reference or mention of) to the story of Sisyphus. Choose of these cartoons and analyze how it connects the struggles of man to the legend of Sisyphus. Write 1/2 page in your notebook.
(NOTE: You will need to click on each of the cartoons to enlarge them for closer inspection!)
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