Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Books 1-4, Part A

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Ovid on Wikimedia

For this week, I chose Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Books 1-4 for the reading assignments. I chose Ovid because he was mentioned in a work that I read for one of my French courses, and I have always been interested in Greek and Roman mythology. The Metamorphoses is an epic poem of Greek mythology, and each story within deals with the theme of transformation. I have made note of some important familial ties between characters, the theme of transformation regarding each story, as well as what I liked about each.
Each story is divided into smaller sections, similar to chapters, though they may only be a couple of paragraphs long. I like this style, because I like making lists to keep things organized while note taking. I also have an easier time referring back to the text, since each section has a heading of what is about to take place. Each tale also mentions other characters in Greek mythology that are important in their own right, but not necessarily to the story at hand. For example, Ursa Major and Minor, as well as the signs, such as Scorpio, are mentioned in the story of Phaethon, but are not talked much about. I think that this is an interesting way to transition between stories, or to write stories with completely different plots that are still connected to one another.
Deucalion and Pyrrha
  • A tale similar to Noah’s Ark, Jupiter and Neptune flood earth in dissatisfaction
    • Only two people left on earth, no animals
    • Theme of sin and beginning anew
  • Deucalion = son of Prometheus
  • Pyrrha = daughter of Pandora and Epimetheus
  • The innocent are given a second chance
  • Transformation - Thrown stones turn into people with goddess Themis’ blessing
  • Origin- story of how people came to be (again) and how they behave
    • “So the toughness of our race, our ability to endure hard labor, and the proof we give of the source from which we are sprung.”
Io
  • Jupiter = king of gods
  • Juno = Jupiter’s wife, queen of gods
  • Io = priestess in temple of Juno
  • Argus = god in charge of watching Io, has many eyes
  • Shock value - Jupiter’s rape of Io is bluntly stated in opening section (yet he supposedly cares for her)
  • Transformation - Io is turned into heifer
  • Themes - lying, jealousy, unfair punishment, sorrow
  • Origin story on how the peacock got its colorful feathers
    • When Argus is defeated, Juno places all of his eyes on her special bird, resulting in the peacock
Phaethon and the Sun
  • Transition from story of Io
    • Io gives birth to Zeus’ son, Epaphus, who is a friend of Phaethon’s
    • Io is now a greatly worshiped goddess
  • Phaethon = Son of Sun god, Phoebus
  • Themes - search for father/approval, the need to be more than ordinary, not heeding warning
  • Transformation - Phaethon prepares to take on his father’s responsibility, which even Jupiter cannot handle
Phaethon's Ride
  • Themes - Staying true to a promise even, though the outcome will not be good, pride, making mistakes in order to learn, responsibility
  • Transformation - Phaethon acts as the Sun god for a day
    • Disastrous because he did not listen to reason
  • Earth represents reason
  • Stubborn fails in his duties and is punished with death
  • Mention of important star signs and constellations

Ovid. Metamorphoses. 8 AD.
Link 

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