The Metamorphoses: Difference between revisions

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{{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 Night's 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.])


Not to be confused with [[Franz Kafka]]'s ''[[The Metamorphosis (Literature)|The Metamorphosis]]''.
Not to be confused with [[Franz Kafka]]'s ''[[The Metamorphosis]]''.
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=== ''The Metamorphoses'' provides examples of: ===
=== ''The Metamorphoses'' provides examples of: ===
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* [[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]]
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* [[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).
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* [[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 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}}.
* [[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.

Revision as of 09:48, 8 April 2014
"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.)

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

The Metamorphoses provides examples of:

  1. ↑ (And golden honey was dripping from a green oak tree.)
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