Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses III Part B
Overall Impression:
These stories had a very interesting style. We go from one third person storyteller into another. It was a story within a story within a story... Venus tells a story of Atalanta, but Venus is in the story told by Orpheus. This gave a very interesting sense of time and is something I may consider in my future storytelling.
These stories had an overall focus on morals, or how one ought to act. Some stories focused on obeying commands from those in authority positions, another on incestuous relations, and others on being true to yourself (i.e. your values and feelings). Many of these values are very similar to ones we still currently hold, which is interesting to see.
These stories also had a focus on love and the power it can have on people and the decisions they make. These stories seemed to say that love can conquer all but also that love can cause you to do dangerous things.
Likes/Dislikes:
Some aspects I enjoyed: many of these stories were told from the perspective of a singer. They were framed as some of his songs and it was an interesting way to engage with these stories. Compared to part A, there was less action in these stories, however, they were not any less interesting to read. I think part of this is due to the complex storytelling style. Instead of feeling like short films, it felt like we were being continually pulled deeper and deeper into a history of connected instances.
I also enjoyed the presentation of females in these stories. Their complexity and range of emotions were demonstrated in a fair manner, we were able to see that they also have the ability to reason and come to decisions about problems in life. We could also see that women were valued for more than just beauty.. however, the main focus is still on them being companions or lovers.
Some things I would change: The language is still a little confusing and sometimes the additional details can distract from the point of the passages. While these stories were intended for a specific audience with great knowledge of these characters, those who have little knowledge in this realm can become lost quickly or not get the full depth of the story. I think in my retelling of these stories, I will add more background into these aspects so the readers can easily connect references and read through the stories with greater ease.
Favorite Stories:
While the stories about Myrrah were a little uncomfortable, they were also really entertaining. They tackled complex emotions and dealt with actions considered immoral. This story also allowed for a deeper representation of a women in this realm. You could see the power of love in many facets as well as its detriments. This also dealt with some psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide, so that was intriguing for me as a Psychology major.
The Foot Race story about Atalanta and Hippomenes was also a fun story to read, especially since this was where we saw the story inside of a story... inside of a story take place.
Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses III, originally by Ovid, translated into English by Tony Kline.
These stories had a very interesting style. We go from one third person storyteller into another. It was a story within a story within a story... Venus tells a story of Atalanta, but Venus is in the story told by Orpheus. This gave a very interesting sense of time and is something I may consider in my future storytelling.
These stories had an overall focus on morals, or how one ought to act. Some stories focused on obeying commands from those in authority positions, another on incestuous relations, and others on being true to yourself (i.e. your values and feelings). Many of these values are very similar to ones we still currently hold, which is interesting to see.
These stories also had a focus on love and the power it can have on people and the decisions they make. These stories seemed to say that love can conquer all but also that love can cause you to do dangerous things.
Likes/Dislikes:
Some aspects I enjoyed: many of these stories were told from the perspective of a singer. They were framed as some of his songs and it was an interesting way to engage with these stories. Compared to part A, there was less action in these stories, however, they were not any less interesting to read. I think part of this is due to the complex storytelling style. Instead of feeling like short films, it felt like we were being continually pulled deeper and deeper into a history of connected instances.
I also enjoyed the presentation of females in these stories. Their complexity and range of emotions were demonstrated in a fair manner, we were able to see that they also have the ability to reason and come to decisions about problems in life. We could also see that women were valued for more than just beauty.. however, the main focus is still on them being companions or lovers.
Some things I would change: The language is still a little confusing and sometimes the additional details can distract from the point of the passages. While these stories were intended for a specific audience with great knowledge of these characters, those who have little knowledge in this realm can become lost quickly or not get the full depth of the story. I think in my retelling of these stories, I will add more background into these aspects so the readers can easily connect references and read through the stories with greater ease.
Favorite Stories:
While the stories about Myrrah were a little uncomfortable, they were also really entertaining. They tackled complex emotions and dealt with actions considered immoral. This story also allowed for a deeper representation of a women in this realm. You could see the power of love in many facets as well as its detriments. This also dealt with some psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide, so that was intriguing for me as a Psychology major.
The Foot Race story about Atalanta and Hippomenes was also a fun story to read, especially since this was where we saw the story inside of a story... inside of a story take place.
(Photo taken by Acabashi of Atalanta and Hippomenes Statues
at Quex House in Kent, England. Source: Wikimedia)
Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses III, originally by Ovid, translated into English by Tony Kline.
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