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Year 8 - English

Bruegel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus: how the myth inspired the painting

Myths, legends and stories that inspire

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and explore a range of text types in connection to classical myths and legends. They first look at poetry before doing some descriptive writing inspired by poetry and paintings. They then explore Chaucer and modern retellings of myths to inspire their narrative writing.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how Pieter Bruegel's painting 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' was inspired by a Greek myth.

Key Notes

  • Greek myths are stories originally told by the ancient Greeks as a way of explaining the origin and nature of the world.
  • Sometimes Greek myths contain morals.
  • The moral of the Fall of Icarus is that hubris is dangerous.
  • Pieter Bruegel's 'Landscape with the Fall of Icarus' (c. 1558) was inspired by the Greek myth.
  • Bruegel's painting celebrates the humility of labourers by making them the focus of the painting.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • myth: stories which explain how the world began and what the world is like and why
  • hubris: excessive pride
  • humility: being modest, humble, the opposite of hubristic
  • inspired: to be filled with the desire and motivation to do something
  • moral: a lesson, often about how to behave, taught through a story

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • All the Greek myths have morals.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Greek myths are stories originally told by the ancient Greeks as a way of explaining the origin and nature of the world. Sometimes Greek myths contain morals.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'myth'

stories which explain how the world began and what the world is like and why.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: All the Greek myths have morals. Correction: The Greek myths are not all moralistic. Indeed, the gods, mythological creatures and mortals often act in cruel, reactive, vengeful and immoral ways.

More Lessons In This Unit

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