The Myth of Arachne

From sailors who were turned into pigs, nymphs that sprouted into trees and a gaze that
converted the beholder to stone, Greek mythology brims with shapeshifters. The powerful
Gods usually changed their own forms at will but for mortals the mutations were often
unwanted. One such unnerving transformation befell the spinner Arachne.
Arachne was the daughter of a tradesman who spent his days dying cloth the deepest shades of
purple. She had a flair for spinning the finest threads weaving them into flowing fabric and
creating magnificent tapestries. People flocked to watch her hands flying across her loom as if
thread sprung directly from her fingertips. But as praise for her work grew, so did her pride.
Arachne could often be heard boasting about her skills declaring that her talent surpassed
anyone else’s—mortal or divine. She refused to see weaving as a gift from the gods rather she
flaunted it as her own personal genius. Unfortunately, the Goddess of Wisdom and Crafts,
Athena, overheard Arachne making these claims. Planning to teach the ungrateful girl a lesson,
Athena disguised herself as an old woman and stole the amongst the mortals. She berated
Arachne in public how dare the weaver claim herself greater than the gods. But Arachne only
laughed, barely looking up from her loom. Provoked, the old woman threw off her cloak to
reveal her true form. If Arachne insisted on defaming the gods, Athena would challenge her to
a contest directly. Masking her shock at the appearance of the grey-eyed goddess Arachne
accepted the challenge.
Athena drew up her own glittering loom as a great crowd gathered to watch. The weavers began,
eyes fixed and shuttles blurring. Athena conjured wisps of cloud from above and slender
threads of grass from below in a spectacle of strength. She wove tremendous scenes that
showed the power of the gods: Poseidon riding the waves, Zeus firing thunderbolts and Apollo
hurdling across the sky. In Athena's splendid tapestry, the glory of the Gods dwarfed mortal
life. But Arachne had no interest in boosting godly egos. Her tapestry showed the gods abusing
their power: squabbling amongst themselves, drinking and bragging, and meddling in the lives
of mortals. She represented Zeus as a philanderer, transfiguring himself to ensnare women, a
swan for Leda, a bull for Europa, a shower of gold for Danae. Arachne then turned to the
misdemeanors of other gods from Pluto's abduction of Persephone to Bacchus’ wild pursuit of
Erigone. Even though she cast the gods in the most unflattering light, Arachne’s work shone
with her dazzling skill. Her tapestry was almost alive filled with movement and lustrous colors
that winked triumphantly.
When Athena saw Arachne’s undeniably better and flagrantly subversive work, she flew into
a rage and turned on the human weaver. Arachne’s glee dimmed as she felt her body shrinking
and contorting. Her fingers waved wildly as her arms stuck to her sides and black hair sprouted
all over her body. The goddess left Arachne with a single spool of thread unfurling from her
belly, a slim reminder of her human talent. For challenging the assumption that the gods were
untouchable, Athena had shrunk her adversary into the first spider. To this day, Arachne and
her children spin out her penance or is it undaunted persistence? –in the shadows of giants.

Glossary:

Words Meaning Words Meaning

sprout A. become smaller in size spring G. to move secretly and quietly

shrink B. to start to grow something brim H. to happen to somebody
weave C. to appear suddenly berate I. to criticize
befall D. frightening or scary loom J. to be full of something
unnerving E. a machine for cloth making using threads dwarf K. to cross threads
steal F. a craft produced by weaving tapestry L. to make something look small
 Comprehension Task
1. Watch the video and complete the corresponding main ideas.
a. Arachne was a skillful ____________.
b. Arachne and _________ were provoking each other.
c. Athena produce craft telling the _______, while Arachne’s showed ________.
d. The origin of the __________ came from Arachne.

2. Match the words with their definition based on the text

Words Meaning Words Meaning

sprout A. become smaller in size spring G. to move secretly and quietly

shrink B. to start to grow something brim H. to happen to somebody
weave C. to appear suddenly berate I. to criticize
befall D. frightening or scary loom J. to be full of something
unnerving E. a machine for cloth making using threads dwarf K. to cross threads
steal F. a craft produced by weaving tapestry L. to make something look small

3. Answer the questions based on the text

a. Who are the main characters of the story?
b. Where do you think the story took place?
c. Who do you think should win the competition? Why?
d. What can you learn from Arachne’s story?
e. Why do you think Arachne dislike the gods?

Comprehension Task
1. Watch the video and complete the corresponding main ideas.
a. Arachne was a skillful ____________.
b. Arachne and _________ were provoking each other.
c. Athena produce craft telling the _______, while Arachne’s showed ________.
d. The origin of the __________ came from Arachne.

2. Match the words with their definition based on the text

Words Meaning Words Meaning

sprout A. become smaller in size spring G. to move secretly and quietly

shrink B. to start to grow something brim H. to happen to somebody
weave C. to appear suddenly berate I. to criticize
befall D. frightening or scary loom J. to be full of something
unnerving E. a machine for cloth making using threads dwarf K. to cross threads
steal F. a craft produced by weaving tapestry L. to make something look small

3. Answer the questions based on the text

a. Who are the main characters of the story?
b. Where do you think the story took place?
c. Who do you think should win the competition? Why?
d. What can you learn from Arachne’s story?
e. Why do you think Arachne dislike the gods?
b. Writing Exercise

Story Sequence Name:

Instruction : Summarize the story into this diagram below!

Title : __________________________________________________________

Arachne was ________________ She had a gift of ____________ But she was_________________
___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

She saw ___________________ Then she____________________ Athena heard______________ __

___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________
___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________

She decided _______________ Arachne’s tapestry was _______ Athena enraged _____________
__________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________
__________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________
____________________ ______________________