1. Contrast the representations of Kronos/Saturn and his children by Rubens and Goya with those of the same scene on medieval manuscripts and on ancient Greek artifacts, and with Hesiod's description. What are the major differences and how do you interpret them?

2. Reread lines 506-616. Why do you think the line of Iapetos and Klymene is the only one of the Titan genealogies narrated after the story of the birth of Zeus (453-506)?

3. The challenges to Zeus' supremacy take two forms: one is the trickery of Prometheus, and the other is the Titanomachy and the battle with Typhoios. What are the similarities and differences between the two forms of challenge?
3a. Why do you think they are juxtaposed in the narrative?
3b. How does the Titanomachy as the connection between stages two and three of the succession-myth differ from the action that connects stage one to stage two?

4. Compare and contrast the two sections of the narrative in which Styx appears (383-403; 775-805). How is Styx similar and different in the two sections?
4a. How is each of the two narratives adapted to the themes of the section in which it appears?

5. Whom does Styx marry and what is his genealogy?
5a.How is this relevant to her characterization in the Theogony?

6. Lines 409-452 are called the "Hymn to Hekate." Who is Hekate and what is the nature of her character?
6a. Why do you think the Hymn to Hekate is placed where it is in the narrative?

7. What does the story of Aphrodite's birth say about her character?
7a. In what ways do you think she represents the first stage of generation in the poem?

8. Compare the ancient Greek representations of the birth of Aphrodite with those in the Western tradition. Are there major similarities or differences? What is their significance?
8a. Are there major similarities or differences between the plastic representations of the birth of Aphrodite and Hesiod's account? What is their significance?

9. What does the story of Pandora's birth say about her character?
9a. In what ways do you think she represents the second stage of generation in the poem?
9b. Compare the creation of Pandora in the Theogony with the analogous episode in the Works and Days (lines 47-106). Why do you think the details that appear in the Works and Days are omitted from the Theogony account?

10. Compare the ancient Greek representations of Pandora with those in the Western tradition. Are there major similarities or differences? What is their significance?
10a. Are there major similarities or differences between the plastic representations of Pandora and Hesiod's account? What is their significance?

11. What does the story of Athena's birth say about her character?
11a. In what ways do you think she represents the third stage of generation in the poem?

12. Compare the ancient Greek representations of the birth of Athena with those in the Western tradition. Are there major similarities or differences? What is their significance?
12a. Are there major similarities or differences between the plastic representations of the birth of Athena and Hesiod's account? What is their significance?

13. Why do you think the character in Aristophanes' Birds claims that "Athena is recognized as Zeus' epiklêros"?

14. How does each of the following other characters embody the essential traits of the epiklêros:
14a. Aphrodite
14b. Hekate
14c. Styx?

15. Contrast the overall plot of "The Heiress" (from Henry James' Washington Square) with that of Menander's The Shield. How does the figure of the heiress in each represent essential traits of the female in her culture?

16. What does the institution of the epiklêros say about the relationship between father and daughter in Greek culture?
16a. What is the major difference between the order of adjudication of the epiklêros and the order of intestate succession? What are some of the cultural implications of this difference?