The Metamorphoses: Difference between revisions

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.
Content added Content deleted
VisualWikitext
(Import from TV Tropes TVT:Literature.TheMetamorphoses 2012-07-01, editor history TVTH:Literature.TheMetamorphoses, CC-BY-SA 3.0 Unported license)
 
m (removed Category:Literature using HotCat)
 
(11 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{work}}
{{work}}
{{Infobox book
| title = The Metamorphoses
| original title = Metamorphōseōn librī
| image = Rubens - The Calydonian Boar Hunt (about 1611-1612).png
| caption = The Calydonian Boar Hunt, by Peter Paul Rubens
| author = Ovid
| central theme =
| elevator pitch = The history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework. ''(Wikipedia)''
| genre = Epic poetry
| publication date = 8 CE
| source page exists =
| wiki URL =
| wiki name =
}}
{{quote|''"flavaque de viridi stillabant ilice mella." <ref>(And golden honey was dripping from a green oak tree.)</ref>''|'''Ovid''', ''The Metamorphoses'', Bk.I:112}}
{{quote|''"flavaque de viridi stillabant ilice mella." <ref>(And golden honey was dripping from a green oak tree.)</ref>''|'''Ovid''', ''The Metamorphoses'', Bk.I:112}}


''The Metamorphoses'', completed in 8 AD, is a [[Narrative Poem]] by the Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, better known today as [[Ovid (Creator)|Ovid]]. The fifteen books of the poem consist of many stories from [[Classical Mythology|Greek and Roman mythology]].
'''''The Metamorphoses''''', completed in 8 AD, is a [[Narrative Poem]] by the Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, better known today as [[Ovid]]. The fifteen books of the poem consist of many stories from [[Classical Mythology|Greek and Roman mythology]].


These stories range from the origin of the world from Chaos to the deification of Caesar and the celebration of Augustus's rule over Rome. Countless tales from mythology are told in between, including the stories of "Apollo and Daphne," "Orpheus and Eurydice," "Baucis and Philemon," "Daedalus and Icarus," et cetera.
These stories range from the origin of the world from Chaos to the deification of Caesar and the celebration of Augustus's rule over Rome. Countless tales from mythology are told in between, including the stories of "Apollo and Daphne," "Orpheus and Eurydice," "Baucis and Philemon," "Daedalus and Icarus," et cetera.


''The Metamorphoses'' has served as an enormous influence throughout the ages; today, it remains one of the best classical sources for many myths. [[Shakespeare (Creator)|Shakespeare]], notably, borrowed from or was inspired by various stories in the collection. ''[[Romeo and Juliet (Theatre)|Romeo and Juliet]]'' parallels many aspects of "Pyramus and Thisbe", a myth which also appears as a [[Show Within a Show|play within a play]] in ''[[A Midsummer Nights Dream (Theatre)|A Midsummer Nights Dream]]''. In Act V of ''[[The Tempest (Theatre)|The Tempest]]'', one of Prospero's speeches is strikingly similar to a speech Medea makes in Book VII of ''The Metamorphoses''. Additionally, ''[[Titus Andronicus (Theatre)|Titus Andronicus]]'' bears various similarities to the story of Philomena, and Lavinia actually points out the passage to tell her father and uncle what had happened to her.
''The Metamorphoses'' has served as an enormous influence throughout the ages; today, it remains one of the best classical sources for many myths. [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]], notably, borrowed from or was inspired by various stories in the collection. ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' parallels many aspects of "Pyramus and Thisbe", a myth which also appears as a [[Show Within a Show|play within a play]] in ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream|A Midsummer Nights Dream]]''. In Act V of ''[[The Tempest]]'', one of Prospero's speeches is strikingly similar to a speech Medea makes in Book VII of ''The Metamorphoses''. Additionally, ''[[Titus Andronicus (theatre)|Titus Andronicus]]'' bears various similarities to the story of Philomena, and Lavinia actually points out the passage to tell her father and uncle what had happened to her.


Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'' is available online [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ovid.html here]... (What, can't read the Latin? [[Grumpy Old Man|Kids these days]]... A.S.Kline's English translation is available [http://etext.virginia.edu/latin/ovid/trans/Ovhome.htm here.])
Ovid's ''Metamorphoses'' is available online [http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/ovid.html here]... (What, can't read the Latin? [[Grumpy Old Man|Kids these days]]... A.S.Kline's English translation is available [http://etext.virginia.edu/latin/ovid/trans/Ovhome.htm here.]{{dead link}})


Not to be confused with [[Franz Kafka]]'s ''[[The Metamorphosis (Literature)|The Metamorphosis]]''.
Not to be confused with [[Franz Kafka]]'s ''[[The Metamorphosis]]''.

----
{{tropelist}}
=== ''The Metamorphoses'' provides examples of: ===
* [[Adam and Eve Plot]]: The story of Deucalion and Pyrrha.
* [[Adam and Eve Plot]]: The story of Deucalion and Pyrrha.
* [[All Star Cast]]: The stories center on many well known figures and heroes. The Calydonian Boar Hunt in particular brings ''many'' of them together.
* [[All-Star Cast]]: The stories center on many well known figures and heroes. The Calydonian Boar Hunt in particular brings ''many'' of them together.
* [[A Load of Bull]]: The Minotaur.
* [[A Load of Bull]]: The Minotaur.
* [[Angel Unaware]]
* [[Angel Unaware]]
Line 29: Line 43:
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Juno, especially. For example, she sends a horrific plague upon the island of Aegina, killing hundreds. Why? Because the island is named after a woman who slept with Jupiter, king of the gods. See also the above example of the flaying.
* [[Disproportionate Retribution]]: Juno, especially. For example, she sends a horrific plague upon the island of Aegina, killing hundreds. Why? Because the island is named after a woman who slept with Jupiter, king of the gods. See also the above example of the flaying.
* [[Does Not Like Men]]: Diana. She reacts poorly when Actaeon accidentally stumbles across the pool where she's bathing.
* [[Does Not Like Men]]: Diana. She reacts poorly when Actaeon accidentally stumbles across the pool where she's bathing.
* [[Driven By Envy]]
* [[Driven by Envy]]
* [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]
* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]
* [[Extra Eyes]]: Argus, though they don't help him once he falls asleep.
* [[Extra Eyes]]: Argus, though they don't help him once he falls asleep.
* [[Flight]]
* [[Flight]]
Line 57: Line 71:
* [[Plot Hole]]: There are several, since it is based on conflicting mythology.
* [[Plot Hole]]: There are several, since it is based on conflicting mythology.
* [[Pygmalion Plot]]: One of the stories told in the poem, and one of the few with a truly happy ending.
* [[Pygmalion Plot]]: One of the stories told in the poem, and one of the few with a truly happy ending.
* [[Raised As the Opposite Gender]]: Iphis' mother raises her daughter as a boy on divine orders to avoid exposing her at birth.
* [[Raised as the Opposite Gender]]: Iphis' mother raises her daughter as a boy on divine orders to avoid exposing her at birth.
* [[Romantic Two Girl Friendship]]: Iphis and Ianthe, though the former doesn't dare to reveal her true sex and the latter thinks (s)he's her groom-to-be.
* [[Romantic Two-Girl Friendship]]: Iphis and Ianthe, though the former doesn't dare to reveal her true sex and the latter thinks (s)he's her groom-to-be.
* [[Sacred Hospitality]]: Hospitality is extremely important, particularly in the Baucis and Philemon story. They get turned into trees for their trouble (it's actually rather sweet).
* [[Sacred Hospitality]]: Hospitality is extremely important, particularly in the Baucis and Philemon story. They get turned into trees for their trouble (it's actually rather sweet).
* [[Scylla and Charybdis]]: Faced by Aeneas at one point.
* [[Scylla and Charybdis]]: Faced by Aeneas at one point.
* [[Second Hand Storytelling]]: The whole thing is a collection of earlier myths and folktales, which are occasionally told by characters in-story. If you're not paying close attention, [[Recursive Reality|it can get confusing]]...
* [[Second Hand Storytelling]]: The whole thing is a collection of earlier myths and folktales, which are occasionally told by characters in-story. If you're not paying close attention, [[Recursive Reality|it can get confusing]]...
* [[Smite Me Oh Mighty Smiter]]: Myrrha, after she gets pregnant {{spoiler|with her father's child. She gets turned into a myrrh tree, but still gives birth to a boy}}.
* [[Smite Me, O Mighty Smiter!]]: Myrrha, after she gets pregnant {{spoiler|with her father's child. She gets turned into a myrrh tree, but still gives birth to a boy}}.
* [[Star Crossed Lovers]]: Pyramus and Thisbe.
* [[Star-Crossed Lovers]]: Pyramus and Thisbe.
* [[Talking the Monster To Death]]
* [[Talking the Monster to Death]]
* [[To Hell and Back]]: Orpheus and Eurydice.
* [[To Hell and Back]]: Orpheus and Eurydice.
* [[Trapped in Another World]]: Persephone is abducted and brought to the Underworld.
* [[Trapped in Another World]]: Persephone is abducted and brought to the Underworld.
Line 75: Line 89:


{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Poetry]]
[[Category:Poetry]]
[[Category:Classic Literature]]
[[Category:Literature of the 1st century]]
[[Category:The Metamorphoses]]
[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]
[[Category:Literature]]
[[Category:Latin Literature]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metamorphoses, The}}

Latest revision as of 16:46, 29 March 2022

The Metamorphoses
The Calydonian Boar Hunt, by Peter Paul Rubens
Original Title: Metamorphōseōn librī
Written by: Ovid
Central Theme:
Synopsis: The history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework. (Wikipedia)
Genre(s): Epic poetry
First published: 8 CE
v · d · e
"flavaque de viridi stillabant ilice mella." [1]
—Ovid, The Metamorphoses, Bk.I:112

The Metamorphoses, completed in 8 AD, is a Narrative Poem by the Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso, better known today as Ovid. The fifteen books of the poem consist of many stories from Greek and Roman mythology.

These stories range from the origin of the world from Chaos to the deification of Caesar and the celebration of Augustus's rule over Rome. Countless tales from mythology are told in between, including the stories of "Apollo and Daphne," "Orpheus and Eurydice," "Baucis and Philemon," "Daedalus and Icarus," et cetera.

The Metamorphoses has served as an enormous influence throughout the ages; today, it remains one of the best classical sources for many myths. Shakespeare, notably, borrowed from or was inspired by various stories in the collection. Romeo and Juliet parallels many aspects of "Pyramus and Thisbe", a myth which also appears as a play within a play in A Midsummer Nights Dream. In Act V of The Tempest, one of Prospero's speeches is strikingly similar to a speech Medea makes in Book VII of The Metamorphoses. Additionally, Titus Andronicus bears various similarities to the story of Philomena, and Lavinia actually points out the passage to tell her father and uncle what had happened to her.

Ovid's Metamorphoses is available online here... (What, can't read the Latin? Kids these days... A.S.Kline's English translation is available here. [dead link])

Not to be confused with Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis.

Tropes used in The Metamorphoses include:
  1. ↑ (And golden honey was dripping from a green oak tree.)
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/The_Metamorphoses?oldid=1960305"