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Beyond the EpicThe Metamorphoses By: Publius Ovidius NasoTranslation By: Rolfe Humpheries Project by: Kait WeaverBen AppiahTiona Coleman

Publius Ovidus NasoBorn: March 20, 43 B.C.Died: Died A.D. 16 or 17His father wanted Ovid to study politicsOvid rebelled insisting his success as a poet (unlike Homer, Ovid was successful and became famous throughout history for his writings)

The roman poet

Due to the magnitude of this epic it is reasonable to discuss in depth only the most significant booksThese books chosen strongly display central: themes, plots, epic qualities, and structure The books chosen are: Book I, Book X, and Book XIIThe other minor books serve to support the major themes and display literary devices (Ex: Meter, Narrative, Pathos, Transition)The plan for the plotTragic Love and LustCupid, angry at Apollo* for defeating the great Python in the Pythian Feast, choses to act in anger to Apollo by shooting him with an arrow causing him to lust for Daphne, whom he loved before the arrow

The god, Pan, falls in love with the wood nymph, Syrinx. She does not love him and senses his lust, her sisters help her by turning her into water reeds. Pan in disappointment turns his lover into what are called musical pan pipes

Book 1Divine Rape and LustThe god, Jupiter, rapes Io out of lust, sadly his wife Juno suspects his affair and he turns her into a cow (Argus, the keeper of the cow, is murdered by Mercury, sent by Juno Io is transformed back into a nymph and bears Jupiter a son, Epaphus)

Theme Stems*Apollo is sometimes referred to by Ovid as PhoebusHubrisPhaethon (son of the Sun) and Epaphus (son of Jove) get into an argument Phaethon claims he is the son of the Sun but Epaphus challenges him saying that he was lied to by his mother about his true father, in an attempt to keep his word true he goes on a quest to seek his father

In transition to book two, in arrogance, Phaethon almost destroys the Earth with his fathers chariot from the Sun in pride proving his word to his friend

InvocationChaos and CreationAges of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and IronThe FloodDeucalion and PyrrhaThe New WorldApollo and DaphneIo and JoveThe Pipes of PanIo and Isis

The CallMy intention is to tell of bodies changedTo different forms; the gods who made the changes,Will help meor I hope somewith a poemThat runs from the worlds beginning to our own days. (pg.31, The Metamorphoses, Gregory) This invocation appears at the beginning of The Metamorphoses Ovid is calling on the gods for help and wisdom as he writes this epic of the world

Based on the definition of an invocation this particular type of calling is known as a Supplication of Prayer

The Metamorphoses begins all Nature as all Chaos. The poem begins while a creator is creating the universe. (pg. 31, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)

Ovid morphs God and Nature into one characterBecause Ovid starts with the creation of the universe we know and can understand that this adds to the intensity of the epicOnce creation is over, the ages of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron can begin as the world progresses toward evil

In the midst of it all

Setting for the stageCreation of the WorldGod (or a Nature) calmed the elements.. whichever God he was (pg. 31, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)Creation of the Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and AirThe whole first mini book of book I is surrounded around the creation of the world this sets the stage for the vast setting of this epic workYou know that this is an epic based on the fact that the setting is so vast (the gods roam the whole Earth)

The Golden AgeThe towns were not entrenched for time of war; they had no brazen trumpets, straight, nor horns of curving brass, nor helmets, shields nor swords. (pg. 33, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)

2. The Silver Age The seasons are created (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer) Death becomes more prevalent and through the ages3. The Bronze Age Humankind used were allowed weapons and committed horrible crimes4. The Iron Age Humans disrespect the gods, evil sprung (flood)

Metaphor:A comparison between two unlike things uniting them together

Personification:An inanimate object used that is given or endowed human like qualities or abilitiesLiterary DevicesImagery:Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses

Book II and V: ImageryThe palace of the Sun rose up in columns of flaming gold and crass; ivory the ceiling, and double palace doors were bright as mirrors in silver light, and yet more valuable that gold and silver was the craft that made them. (pg. 57, Book 2, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)

See how Phorbas from Syene, Metions son, and Amphimedon of Libya wild to fight, rushed, slipped, and fell on blood-wet floors, then rising met Perseus sword, which pierced the side of one, then, flashing, cut the naked throat of Phorbas. (pg. 141, Book 5, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)In the little booksBook III: MetaphorTo liquid in mild heat, as autumn frost changes to dew at morning, so did Narcissus wear away with love, drained, fading in the heat of secret fires. (pg. 100, Book 3, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)

Book IV: PersonificationLook out to sea! Swift as a diving, tossing, knife-sharp-nosed ship that cuts the waves, propelled sailed up while churcning waters at its breast broke into spray, leeside and windward (pg. 132, Book 4, The Metamorphoses, Gregory)

Book XLustMyrrha loves her father, but doesnt know how to express it, tricks him into sleeping with her, turns into a tree and has a son named Adonis

The Story of Adonis, The Story of Pygmalion Blessed love

The Story of Ganymede, Two Incidents of Venus Anger, The Story of Cinyras and Myrrha Lust

The Story of Cyparissus, The Story of Apollo and Hyacinthus, The Fate of Adonis Disastrous love

Theme StemsLove Orpheus travels to the Underworld to get his wife back, but looks back out of concern and loses her forever Pygmalion falls in love with the perfect woman he created out of ivoryVenus is hit with Cupids arrow and falls in love with Myrrhas son, Adonis

Art Orpheuss songs (expresses his grief)Pygmalions statues (creates his own vision of perfection in women)

Divine AngerVenus Tells Adonis the Story of Atalanta The anger of the godsTwo Incidents of Venus Anger

Features the use of epithetsthe god Apollo, master of lyre and bow-string (Book X, The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)

The foul Propoetides (Book X, Two Incidents of Venus Anger, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)

golden Venus (Book X, The Story of Pygmalion, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)

Epic Epithets

Features long and formal speechesOrpheus descends into the Underworld to persuade Pluto and Persephone to give back his dead wife, Eurydice (Orpheus songs)

Gods of the world below the worldIn the death of two. (Book X, The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)

Apollo weeps for Hyacinthus after accidentally killing him during a match of discus-throwing

Fallen before your time, O Hyacinthus, I see your woundAs this flowers markings. (Book X, The Story of Apollo and Hyacinthus, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries).

Speak to thee

Hero that embodies the values of the civilization- Orpheus Courageous travels to the Underworld to plead for his dead wife back: Orpheus mourned her to the upper world, and then.dared to descend to Styx (Book X, The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)Loyalty Out of concern, Orpheus looks back at his wife on their way up from the Underworld; when other women want this poet for their own he drives them away, live without a women for three years (Book X, The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)Strength able to transcend his tragic circumstances through his power of art, influences others through his songs (parts of nature are drawn to his song, there was strength in nature through his songValues - Life goes to get his dead wife from the Underworld because she is taken before the ripeness of her years (Book X, The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)Love willing to go down to the Underworld for his wife, songs centered around love of boys, for I would sing of boys loved by the gods (Book X, , The Metamorphoses, Humpheries)Art is a poet, songs affect others, is sought-after by women because of his poetry

Heroism

Literary elementsMeter - the basic rhythmic structure of a verse Dactylic hexameter- Known as the heroic meter, associated with epic poetry- Contains six feet (metrical unit), each holds a dactyl (long syllable-short syllable-short syllable)- Line usually ends with spondee (long syllable-long syllable)

Narrative - an account of a sequence of events Fluidity of chronological order- No single storyline- Books connected together by theme of metamorphoses (change)- Chronological inconsistencies throughout middle part- Framed narrative (story within a story)

Transition connection of two pieces of writing, relating to coherence Links- Characters are followed throughout different stories- Focus of one character is shifted to a relative- Outcome of story influences the next one

In the little books..Books vi-ixDactylic HexameterSince the original structure is in Latin, it is impossible to tell the differences between the stressed and unstressed syllables. The translations are written so that they dont fit dactylic hexameter Just know the original text was written in this meter

Narrative

Lelexs story of Baucis and Philemon, Book VIII - The group of men are all sharing stories while staying at Achelous (river deity)s home on their way to Athens

Achaleous fight for Deianira to Nessus attempt to ravish(change that word if you want) Deianira, Book IX the narrator jumps suddenly from one story concerning Achaleous and Hercules to a completely different story about HerculesTransition Arachnes fate followed by Niobes fate, Book VI Arachne is transformed into a spider by Minerva, goddess of wisdom and art. Niobe takes this lightly and still refuses to revere the power of the gods

Minos military conquest of Athens, Books VII to VIII Minos seeks allies in Book VII (briefly mentioned), attacks city of Alcathous in Book VIII and imposes just laws on it after its defeat (larger portion of the book)

Invasion of TroyAesacus father, Priam, mourns his sons death Paris is missing from sacrifice ceremony; with a woman he stole --causes warfareLong warfare over the woman he had stolen. A thousand ships were launched, and all the Greeks, banded together taken their vengeance-War will last nine years Our task will be of long duration: nine birds mean nine years (Book XII, The Metamorphoses, Humphries)

Book XIIInvasion of Troy: Achilles vs. CygnusCygnus, son of Neptune, slay thousands of Greeks

Achilles, Greek hero, rides through Trojan on a mission to kill Cygnus

Achilles spear is unable to penetrate CygnusIt did not swerve, and the point was sharp, but only bruised the breast, No damage done (Book XII. Humphries)

Achilles questions his strength; test validity of strength by throwing spear at another man and kills him.

Cygnus skin cannot be pierced I do not wear this helmet, golden with horsehair crest, I do not carry this hollow shield on my left arm, for safety. I wear them out of pride If I lost them, I still will walk unharmed (Book XII. Humphries)Achilles kills Cygnus by choking Cygnus with his own helmet.Achilles dragged him down loosed his helmet-thongs, fastened them tight around the throat and kept choking (Book XII. Humphries)The war is endedAll this toil and warfare brought a long truce, and men laid down their weapons and took their rest (Book XII. Humphries)Ovid includes the story of the Trojan War as a means to mock The IlliadBook XII (cont.)

Divine interventionNeptune-god of water and seaNeptune, who had built the walls of the Troy, was therefore bound to save the cityDiana-goddess of moon and hunting So the goddess was satisfied; her anger and the oceans subsidedIphigenia was taken, and a deer left in her place as victimGod of RumorShe spread the tidings that the Greek fleet was coming, and brave armies, and so the Trojans, dressed in readiness, received them at their shores

Ulysses-Greek chief in Trojan Warwithin Ulysses epic speech, there are epic catalogues pertaining to Ulysses contribution to the war and why he is deserving of the arms of Achilles But ask me what I did, and I can tell you: Setting up ambuscades, constructing moats, encouraging allies, counselling patience, building morale, securing food and arms, sent where the need was greatest (Book XIII Humphries)

Epic cataloguingThe Story of Orpheus and EurydiceIn book X, Orpheus must travel to the underworld to ask for his wife, Eurydice, who was killed when a serpent bit her ankleOrpheus dared to descend to Styx, passing the portal men call Taenarian (Book X. Humphries)

To the depths of hellThroughout Book XII, the overall theme changes itself (metamorphoses)After the Trojan War is over, Nestor tells the story of CaeneusCaenis was a beautiful woman who was raped by Neptune and her desire was to become a man, Caeneus, so she may never be raped again

[Caenis] used to walk the lonely shore, and Neptune got hold of her one day, took her by force, and liked what he had taken and told the girl Ask me for anything and you may have it. What do you want the most? And Caenis replied: The wrong you have done me makes me askthat I may never again be able to suffer so. I ask that I may not be woman (Book XII. Humphries)

Themes surrounding book xiiHubrisWithin in book XIII, Ajax and Ulysses have an argument over the armor of AchillesBoth characters display excessive pride when arguing Ajax: I am no good at speaking, any more than he is good at doing. He can beat me in talking, by far as I can beat him in the fierce battle-line. As for my deeds, O Greeks, I do not think I need to name them, you have seen them

Ulysses: Who has more title to the heros arms than he who brought the hero to the Greeks? Why should there be profit and gain for Ajax in seeming stupid, as he is? And why should I be hurt because I used my wits always for your advantage?

Theme book xII (Cont.)Influence of the MetamorphosesNow I have done my work. It will endure, I trust, beyond Joves anger, fire and sword, beyond Times hunger. The day will come, I know, so let it come, that day which has no power over my body, to end my span of life whatever it may be. Still, part of me, the better part, immortal, will be borne above the stars; my name will be remembered wherever Roman power rules conquered lands, I shall be read, and though all centuries, if prophecies of bards are ever truthful, I shall be living, always.

Ovids Metamorphoses influenced the works of the great William Shakespeare including:Titus AndronicusMidsummer Nights DreamJulius Caesar

Influence on other worksReferencesGregory, H., & Ovid, (2001). The metamorphoses. New York: First Signet Classic Printing.Humphries, R. (1983). The metamorphoses. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press.Syrinx. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.flutemonkey.com/Syrinx.htmlB&N.(2013). The metamorphoses. Retrieved from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/metamorphoses

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