Beyond the Epic

1. Beyond the Epic The Metamorphoses By: PubliusOvidiusNaso Translation By: Rolfe Humpheries Project by: Kait Weaver Ben Appiah Tiona Coleman

2. The roman poet PubliusOvidusNaso • Born:March 20, 43 B.C. • Died: Died A.D. 16 or 17 • His father wanted Ovid to study politics • Ovid rebelled insisting his success as a poet (unlike Homer, Ovid was successful and became famous throughout history for his writings)

3. The plan for the plot • Due to the magnitude of this epic it is reasonable to discuss in depth only the most significant books • These books chosen strongly display central: themes, plots, epic qualities, and structure • The books chosen are: Book I, Book X, and Book XII • The other minor books serve to support the major themes and display literary devices (Ex: Meter, Narrative, Pathos, Transition)

4. Invocation • Chaos and Creation • Ages of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron • The Flood • Deucalion and Pyrrha • The New World • Apollo and Daphne • Io and Jove • The Pipes of Pan • Io and Isis Book 1 Theme Stems • Tragic Love and Lust • Cupid, 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” • Divine Rape and Lust • The 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) • Hubris • Phaethon (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 father’s chariot from the Sun in pride proving his word to his friend *Apollo is sometimes referred to by Ovid as Phoebus

5. The Call “My intention is to tell of bodieschanged To different forms; the gods who made the changes, Will help me—or I hope some—with a poem That runs from the world’s 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

6. In the midst of it all… 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 character • Because Ovid starts with the creation of the universe we know and can understand that this adds to the intensity of the epic • Once creation is over, the ages of Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Iron can begin as the world progresses toward evil

7. Setting for the stage Creation of the World • God (or a Nature) calmed the elements.. “whichever God he was” (pg. 31, The Metamorphoses, Gregory) • Creation of the Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Air • The 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 work • You know that this is an epic based on the fact that the setting is so vast (the god’s roam the whole Earth)

8. …and through the ages • The Golden Age “The 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 3. The Bronze Age  Humankind used were allowed weapons and committed horrible crimes 4. The Iron Age Humans disrespect the gods, evil sprung (“flood”)

9. Literary Devices… • Metaphor: • A comparison between two unlike things uniting them together • Personification: • An inanimate object used that is given or endowed human like qualities or abilities • Imagery: • Vivid descriptive language that appeals to one or more of the senses

10. …In the little books • Book II and V: Imagery • “The 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, Metion’s 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) • Book III:Metaphor • “To 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:Personification • “Look 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)

11. Book X • Theme Stems • Love • 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 ivory • Venus is hit with Cupid’s arrow and falls in love with Myrrha’s son, Adonis • Art • Orpheus’s songs (expresses his grief) • Pygmalion’s statues (creates his own vision of perfection in women) • Divine Anger • Venus Tells Adonis the Story of Atalanta  The anger of the gods • Two Incidents of Venus’ Anger • Lust • Myrrha loves her father, but doesn’t 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

12. Epic Epithets Features the use of epithets • “the 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)

13. Speak to thee… • Features long and formal speeches • Orpheus descends into the Underworld to persuade Pluto and Persephone to give back his dead wife, Eurydice (Orpheus’ songs) • “Gods of the world below the world…In 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 wound…As this flower’s markings.” (Book X, The Story of Apollo and Hyacinthus, The Metamorphoses, Humpheries).

14. Heroism 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 song • Values - • 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

15. Literary elements • Meter - 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

16. In the little books..Books vi-ix • Dactylic Hexameter • Since the original structure is in Latin, itis impossible to tell the differences between the stressed and unstressed syllables. The translations are written so that they don’t fit dactylic hexameter… Just know the original text was written in this meter • Narrative • Lelex’s 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 Hercules • Transition • Arachne’sfate followed by Niobe’s 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)

17. Book XII Invasion of Troy • Aesacus’ father, Priam, mourns his son’s “death” • Paris is missing from sacrifice ceremony; with a woman he stole --causes warfare • “Long 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) Invasion of Troy: Achilles vs. Cygnus • Cygnus, 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 Cygnus • “It 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.

18. Book XII (cont.) • 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 ended • “All 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 Illiad

19. Divine intervention Neptune-god of water and sea “Neptune, who had built the walls of the Troy, was therefore bound to save the city” Diana-goddess of moon and hunting “So the goddess was satisfied; her anger and the ocean’s subsided” “Iphigenia was taken, and a deer left in her place as victim” God of Rumor “She spread the tidings that the Greek fleet was coming, and brave armies, and so the Trojans, dressed in readiness, received them at their shores”

20. Epic cataloguing Ulysses-Greek chief in Trojan War • within 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)

21. To the depths of hell The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice • In book X, Orpheus must travel to the underworld to ask for his wife, Eurydice, who was killed when “a serpent bit her ankle” • “Orpheus… dared to descend to Styx, passing the portal men call Taenarian” (Book X. Humphries)

22. Themes surrounding book xii • Throughout Book XII, the overall theme changes itself (metamorphoses) • After the Trojan War is over, Nestor tells the story of Caeneus • Caeniswas 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 ask…that I may never again be able to suffer so. I ask that I may not be woman’” (Book XII. Humphries)

23. Theme book xII (Cont.) Hubris • Within in book XIII, Ajax and Ulysses have an argument over the armor of Achilles • Both 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 hero’s 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?”

24. Influence of the Metamorphoses “Now I have done my work. It will endure, I trust, beyond Jove’s 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.”

25. Influence on other works • Ovid’s Metamorphoses influenced the works of the great William Shakespeare including: • Titus Andronicus • Midsummer Night’s Dream • Julius Caesar

26. References Gregory, 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.html B&N.(2013). The metamorphoses. Retrieved from http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/metamorphoses