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Greek mythology monologue | Erin O'Neil | TEDxYouth@WellingtonSchool

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    No, I am not enjoying the party.
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    Behold poor souls!
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    The fates turn backwards on themselves.
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    There is danger looming ahead.
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    I can see our bleak future.
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    I am doomed to know
    all of the catastrophes
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    that will befall us,
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    yet no one believes me.
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    Therefore, hark, Paris, Prince of Troy.
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    All is twisted and sour -
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    and I am not just talking
    about the fruit punch.
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    Can you not see all of the signs?
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    They are all around us,
    even as we celebrate.
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    Look there,
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    Hercules the strongest man
    in the world, can break anything,
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    but he cannot break dance.
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    And look here,
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    Hades is the Lord of the Dead,
    yet he is the life of the party.
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    Sisyphus refuses to rock and roll.
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    Prometheus the Titan gave us
    the gift of fire, but he’s banned smoking.
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    Athena has come to peace with the fact
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    that her brother Apollo isn't very bright.
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    (Laughter)
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    Narcissus broke up with himself.
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    (Laughter)
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    Orpheus only speaks the truth,
    but he plays a lyre.
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    Dionysus is sober but Icarus is high,
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    Poseidon is sloshed
    and Medusa just got stoned.
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    (Laughter)
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    Atlas is on top of the world.
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    (Laughter)
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    Athena is also proud of her humility,
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    and Hermes thinks
    that hubris belongs on pita bread.
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    (Laughter)
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    Zeus knows everything except
    how to spell the word omniscient
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    and Thor -
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    What the hell is Thor doing here?
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    (Laughter)
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    Midas has the Golden Touch
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    but thanks to Aphrodite
    he has also got a touch of herpes.
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    Medea is offering advice on parenting.
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    Antigone is agreeable.
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    An audience smart enough
    to understand these jokes
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    is too intelligent to be amused by them.
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    And Oedipus’ date looks
    old enough to be his mother!
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    (Laughter)
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    And what do all
    these foreboding signs forebode?
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    We are all doomed to die.
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    The Greeks are preparing an attack.
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    They will lay siege to this city
    and destroy this city
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    and everyone within these walls shall
    perish by flame and arrow and sword.
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    Oh, and you're out of napkins.
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    (Laughter)
Title:
Greek mythology monologue | Erin O'Neil | TEDxYouth@WellingtonSchool
Description:

For those of you who are a fan of Greek Mythology, high school senior Erin O'Neil's delivery of a monologue from the one act play Irony will be hilarious.
It is a comic mash-up of various characters and situations of Greek Mythology.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx
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Video Language:
English
Team:
closed TED
Project:
TEDxTalks
Duration:
02:12

English subtitles

Revisions

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