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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
why is there so much incest going on
(love for icarus and medea)
book 3 for my explorations in literature class
(love for icarus and medea)
book 3 for my explorations in literature class
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've decided to start doing relatively in-depth reviews for each book I read this year straight after I finish them to help me digest them better, I guess.
This was both my first book of 2023 and my first 'ancient text'. I was quite worried about this being hard to comprehend as it's very long and very old, but for the most part it was extremely accessible and fun to read. I devoured this epic poem.
Ovid really was ahead of his time with this piece, especially with the humour. The translator also did a great job of making it accessible and comprehensive to English-speakers.
The theme of change was very interesting to explore, and the theme is persistent throughout the poem. Metamorphosis was used as a tool for freedom and for punishment within the stories. To save a woman from assault, she would be turned into a bird, and to punish the assaulter, he would also be turned into a bird. This was very strange and an interesting contrast.
Some of my favourite stories include; Narcissus and Echo, Orpheus and Eurydice + Orpheus' Songs (Pygmalion, Hyacinthus, Venus and Adonis), Daedalus and Icarus, Daphne, Salmacis and Hermaphroditus and Iphis. The poem is separated into 15 books, and my favourites were the middle ones from 3-10.
There was a lot of s-xual assu-lt in this book, so beware that most of the stories do include it in one way or another. Some of the stories were extremely disturbing an gruesome, for example 'Tereus, Procne and Philomena'.
There was also a lot of queer subtext in this poem, which I loved.
In short, make this the one 'epic poem' you ever read.
This was both my first book of 2023 and my first 'ancient text'. I was quite worried about this being hard to comprehend as it's very long and very old, but for the most part it was extremely accessible and fun to read. I devoured this epic poem.
Ovid really was ahead of his time with this piece, especially with the humour. The translator also did a great job of making it accessible and comprehensive to English-speakers.
The theme of change was very interesting to explore, and the theme is persistent throughout the poem. Metamorphosis was used as a tool for freedom and for punishment within the stories. To save a woman from assault, she would be turned into a bird, and to punish the assaulter, he would also be turned into a bird. This was very strange and an interesting contrast.
Some of my favourite stories include; Narcissus and Echo, Orpheus and Eurydice + Orpheus' Songs (Pygmalion, Hyacinthus, Venus and Adonis), Daedalus and Icarus, Daphne, Salmacis and Hermaphroditus and Iphis. The poem is separated into 15 books, and my favourites were the middle ones from 3-10.
There was a lot of s-xual assu-lt in this book, so beware that most of the stories do include it in one way or another. Some of the stories were extremely disturbing an gruesome, for example 'Tereus, Procne and Philomena'.
There was also a lot of queer subtext in this poem, which I loved.
In short, make this the one 'epic poem' you ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence
Moderate: Suicide, War
i really loved this!!!! the whole thing was, of course, marred by the amount of rape and other bullshit in it, but idk that meter tho
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Ovid’s use of metaphysical poetry and Greek mythology as an attempt to understand the human mind was absolutely fascinating. Each chapter transitioned very smoothly and I saw many parallels between these myths and modern literature.
4.5 stars
“For my part, considering how the generations of men have passed from the age of gold to that of iron, how often the fortunes of different places have been reversed, I should believe that nothing lasts long under the same form.”
4.5 stars
“For my part, considering how the generations of men have passed from the age of gold to that of iron, how often the fortunes of different places have been reversed, I should believe that nothing lasts long under the same form.”
I decided to read this thing mostly because it contained "Orpheus and Eurydice" and I needed to expand my mythological knowledge anyway. Loved the story I came for, and some of the others were interesting too. Some didn't hold my attention very well at all, so it's like any other collection of stories with some hits and some misses. Not bad, but it did take a while to get through. I think it's useful just as a tool to become more well-versed in all the myth that's so often referenced in other things.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Aracne *5/5*
Orfeo y Eurídice *4.5/5*
Muerte de Orfeo *4/5*
Galatea *4/5*
Huida de Eneas de Troya *3/5*
Orfeo y Eurídice *4.5/5*
Muerte de Orfeo *4/5*
Galatea *4/5*
Huida de Eneas de Troya *3/5*
Utterly beautiful piece of work. This long poem is a flowing survey of mythology, guided by the theme of transformation. I loved it, not as much as Homer, albeit Metamorphoses still stands on its own as a gateway to Greek and Roman folklore. Ovid’s history starts at the creation of the universe and goes up to the Caesars of Rome and paints the chronology as a series of changes.
I might seek out another translation for a re-read later down the track. While I enjoyed Golding, I’m curious to read others dictions.
I might seek out another translation for a re-read later down the track. While I enjoyed Golding, I’m curious to read others dictions.
Ovid’s stories hold up extremely well today. They’re thoughtful, critical, and oftentimes quippy in a way that feels very modern.