The Story of Prometheus: Summary and Question Answer | Major English Class 11

Summary

When the young king of the Olmpion gods, Zeus was trying to establish his own rules and governance, Titans didn’t agree to him and a long and terrible war ensued between the Olympians and Titans. The Titan soldiers were led by Zeus's father Cronus and the mighty Atlas.

Zeus and his fellow Olympian gods fought the deadly battle for 10 long years and finally defeated the Titans. Few Titans also fought from the side of Zeus. Among them Prometheus and his brother Epimetheus were the main Titans who contributed the most to make Zeus win.

Evaluating the great contribution, Zeus permitted Prometheus and Epimetheus to populate the earth with humans and other creatures. Epimetheus (whose name means 'afterthought') foolishly gave all the good qualities to the creatures like the strength, to be able to survive in all condition, to fly, to live underwater etc. When the time came to giving qualities to the humans, there were very few good qualities left.

Desperate and not knowing what to do, Epimetheus asks Prometheus for help. Prometheus (whose name means 'forethought') was given wisdom and knowledge by the goddess of wisdom 'Athena'. Prometheus shapes the humans just like gods and Athena fills soul to them. He provides humans with wisdom and the ability to gain knowledge. In this way, Prometheus made humans superior to other creatures and sent them to the earth. Humans had fire with them with which they could cook food and keep themselves warm during winter. 

When the time of providing offerings to the god Zeus, Prometheus tricked Zeus into choosing one pile of offerings cleverly disguised to look delicious, but instead hiding fat and bones. In this way, humans got the best part of the meat.

When Zeus knew about this betrayal, he thought of punishing Prometheus. But knowing that it would be ungrateful to directly punish Prometheus who had helped him so much during the war, he took the fire back from the earth instead. As the fire was taken away humans began to suffer again, people started to die due to hunger and cold.

Seeing the humans' pity, Prometheus felt bad for them and asked 'Athena' for help. Athena tells Prometheus to steal the fire from Zeus.  It was the only way to help humans.

Prometheus became ready to take the risk of sleeping the fire from Zeus just for the sake of humans.

Prometheus became successful in stealing the fire and taking it to the humans humans again began to live a happy life. But as we know there are both positive and negative part of a deed. With fire people began to make weapons and used it to gain power. They began to start wars and many humans were killed.

When Zeus came to know this, he promptly knew that it is non other than Prometheus who gave humans fire again. Prometheus was arrested and was taken to the highest peak of Caucasus mountain. On a huge rock the giants bound Prometheus with unbreakable chains.

As a punishment, Zeus sent his giant eagle everyday who would eat the liver of Prometheus but as Prometheus was immortal, his liver would grow up overnight again. This pitiest process continued for thirty years. Zeus began to feel bad since he was not a bad spirited god. Zeus told Prometheus that he would set him free if two conditions were met.

- An immortal would have to give up his life for Prometheus.

-  A mortal would have to slay the liver eating eagle.

 

Prometheus thought that what immortal would ever give up his life for a Titan? And there was no mortal brave and strong enough to kill the evil giant. Prometheus, being fully aware that he had done the right thing in stealing fire from Olympus and giving it to human, chose to spend the eternal life on the rocks.

But destiny had something else written for him. A badly injured Centuar (half man, half horse) named Chiron, who was accidentally shot by Hercules, decided to scarify himself for Prometheus. This fulfilled the first part of Zeus's terms.

After some time, Hercules saw Prometheus bound to the rock with the frightful eagle merrily munching on his liver, he kills the ferocious giant eagle with his bow and arrow.

Zeus also realizes his fault and invites Prometheus to live on Mount Olympus. Zeus did make Prometheus wear a ring, in which a piece of the Caucasus rock was set as a symbol of his painful connection with the mountain. This represented the first ring to have a setting, and ever since humans have worn rings in humour of the Titan, in gratitude for all the agony he had endured on their behalf.

Questions & Answers

1. Do you think Zeus is just a king? Give reasons from the story. 

Ans. No, Zeus is not just a king. He is also a god. In fact he is the king of all gods. He has power and control  of the universe. He fought a war for the establishment of the new rule just like a king does. But at the same time he is worshipped, is given offerings by other gods and humans, humans and other gods follow him and his ideals. So he is not just a king, he is also a god. 

2. Was the punishment given to Prometheus justifiable? Give reasons. 

Ans. No, the punishment given to Prometheus was not justifiable by any means. What can be the great deed that helping the needy ones. Prometheus helped the humans by giving them fire and saved thousands of lives who were suffering from cold, hunger and pain. And giving such a deadliest and scariest punishment just not justifiable. 

3. What were the conditions set by Zeus for Prometheus's release from the rock?

Ans. The conditions set by Zeus for Prometheus's release from the rock were:

- An immortal would have to give up his life for Prometheus. 

- A mortal would have to slay the liver - eating eagle. 

4. How were the conditions fulfilled for the release of Prometheus?

Ans. A badly injured Centaur (half man, half horse) named Chiron, who was accidentally shot by Hercules, decided to sacrify himself for Prometheus. Thus an immortal gave up his life for Prometheus . After some time,  Hercules, the world's greatest hero, saw Prometheus bound to the rock, with the frightful eagle merrily munching on his liver, he kills the ferocious giant eagle with his bow and arrow. In this way both the conditions were fulfilled for the release of Prometheus.

5. Explain the narrative of the ring that human being started to wear in honour of Prometheus. 

Ans. The story of the ring is connected with Zeus who made Prometheus wear ring  ,in which a piece of the Caucasus rock was set, as a symbol of his painful connection with the mountain. This represented the first ring to have a setting , and ever since humans have worn rings in honour of the Titan, in gratitude for all the agony he had endured on their behalf.