Lectures

• The Nature of Myth
• What is the definition of myth? of traditional?
• What are the 3 basic types of myths, their purposes, main characters, and settings?
• What are some common folktale motifs?
• What are some common traits to quests?
• Political Background
• What happened in the year Ovid was born?
• During Ovid's childhood, who fought against whom and who won?
• How did Octavian/Augustus try to change/reform the Roman World?
• Who were Octavian's/Augustus' chief dieties?
• Poetic Background
• What traits are common to Hellenistic Poetry?
• What traits are common to Latin Love Poetry?
• What are the key themes and gods of Virgil's Aeneid?

• basic questions for all the stories:
• Who are the principal characters in each story?
• What transformation took place?
• Who caused the transformation to take place?
• Was the transformation justified?
• Stories to know:
• Book 1: Lycaon, Deucalion and Pyrrha, Apollo & Daphne, Jupiter & Io
• Book 2: Phaethon, Jupiter & Callisto, Apollo & Coronis, Apollo & the Raven, Minerva & the Crow, Hermes & Aglauros, Jupiter & Europa
• Book 3: Cadmus, Actaeon, Semele, Tiresias, Narcissus & Echo, Pentheur
• Book 4: Daughters of Minyas, Pyramus & Thisbe, Sun & Leucothoe & Clytie, Salmacis & Hermaphroditus, Athamas & Ino, Cadmus & Harmonia, Perseus & Atlas, Perseus & Andromeda
• Book 5: Pereus & Phineus, Muses & Pyreneus, Muses & Pierides, Ceres & Proserpina, Arethusa & Alpheus, Triptolemus & Lyncus
• Book 6: Arachne, Niobe, Lycian Peasants, Marsyas

• It has been observed that the gods' relations with humans in the Iliad and the Odyssey can be described by three pairs of opposites, two of which are kind/cruel and just/self-interest. Examine whether these pairs are evident in Books 1-6 of the Metamorphoses and whether Ovid simply presents them as facts or makes a moral judgment on the conduct of the gods. You may also wish to examine if Ovid is making a political statement via his treatment of the gods.

• In the course of our discussion of Books 1-6 of the Metamorphoses we have observed that sometimes the transformations reflect the inner nature of the individual and sometimes are 'imposed' upon the individual. Discuss with respect to 4-6 transformations, 2-3 of each type.

• It has been observed that the stories of the Minyades look forward to the key themes of books 6-11 of the Metamorphoses. What do these three stories say about the nature/types of love and the fates of those who love in these fashions?