Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' (Day One: Books 1 and 3)

For the discussion in-class I will focus mainly on Book 3, and more specifically on the Tireseas - Narcissus myths. Answer at least two questions or bring up your own topics and analyses for discussion.

Book One

1. How do you interpret the opening of the text? What themes, ideas, concepts does Ovid present here that you feel influences Book One or possible the work as a whole?

2. How might the initial myths of this text raise similar issues to those we found in Genesis? What are these issues? What do you find to be original then about the 'scope' of what Ovid raises here?

Book Three

3. The story of Tireseas appears to be just plain 'weird.' Where do you find its weirdness? What do you make of a person who can change from male to female and back again? How do you interpret the snakes? Tireseas's punishment?

4. Do a close reading of the conversation between Narcissus and Echo. Do you find anything strange going on here? Is Echo simply and "echo"? What does an echo do and what should an echo not do?

5. Deceptively simplistic question: With what or whom does Narcissus fall in love? What is the problem with this? Many writers see in this myth the foundation of love found in all relationships (I would agree!) - what does the myth have to tell us about human desire?