Minerva and Arachne Study Questions

Minerva and Arachne Study Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there's not just one right answer.

  1. What prompts Arachne to challenge Minerva? Was she right to do so? Why or why not?
  2. What implications arise as a result of Arachne's challenge? What might have happened if she had won the contest?
  3. Do you think Minerva is justified in hammering Arachne? Why or why not?
  4. Is Arachne's resurrection at the end of the story a gift, or a curse? Why do you feel this way?
  5. What does the contest between Arachne and Minerva teach us about the relationship between gods and humans in ancient culture?
  6. What does Arachne's fate teach us about the roles of pride in ancient cultures?