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Gamache 1
Narcissus Presentation Outline
Greek God
The tale of Narcissus has remained popular because it is both interesting and provides a moral.
Narcissus (known as Ovid in Roman Mythology) was the son of River God Cephisus and nymph
Lyriope. He was known for his beauty and he was loved by God Apollo due to his extraordinary
physique. He was very handsome, attracting many suitors, but was incapable of feeling love. As
such, he rejected many people. The most widely known myth related to Narcissus involves the
Greek Goddess Echo.
Mythology
When Zeus came to the mountains, the wood nymphs rushed to embrace the jovial god. They
played with him in icy waterfalls and laughed with him in lush green glades. Zeus’ wife, Hera,
was very jealous, and often she searched the mountainside, trying to catch her husband with the
nymphs. But whenever Hera came close to finding Zeus, a charming nymph named Echo
stepped across her path. Echo chatted with Hera in a lively fashion and did whatever she could
to stall the goddess until Zeus and the other nymphs had escaped. Eventually Hera discovered
that Echo had been tricking her, and she flew into a rage. She put a curse on Echo that only
allowed her to repeat the last words she heard.
One day Echo happened upon Narcissus in the woods. When Echo first laid eyes upon
Narcissus, she instantly fell in love. She secretly followed him through the woods, loving him
more with each step. After playing and hiding from Narcissus, Echo revealed herself exclaiming
her love. Narcissus coldly rejected her. The goddess Nemesis heard the rejected girls prayers for
vengeance and arranged for Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection. One day he came
upon a still pool in the woods and leaning down for a drink he caught a glimpse of his reflection.
He became enamored with his own beauty, and didn't realize that he was looking at himself,
because any words of love he would mutter to his reflection, Echo would repeat around him.
From then, he either withered until he became a narcissus flower, still bending over to look at
himself. In other versions, he realized he is in love with his own reflection and kills himself.
Word Derivatives
The narcissus flower, which includes a daffodil
From the Greek word “Nark”, which means numbness and is a root of the word Narcotic
Narcissim and Narcissist(ic) which means excessive love and adoration for ones self
Product
Narcissusia Beauty Pill: take one pill a day for a
boost in self-confidence. Feeling really low? Take
two for an added boost. Do not exceed 2 pills in
one day. Side effects include: spending too much
time getting ready, looking in mirrors, or
complimenting one’s self. Overdose will lead to
conceit and narcissism and will result in an ugly
personality. No one will want to be around you.
Gamache 2
Works Cited
Bulfinch, Thomas. Mythology: the Age of Fable, the Age of Chivalry, Legends of Charlemagne.
New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1913. Print. Used for informational reference about the
whole story.
“Echo and Narcissus in Greek Mythology .” Mythography. 2008. Loggia.com. 1 Mar. 2009
<http://www.loggia.com/myth/echo.html>.
Hamilton, Edith. Mythology Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Boston, MA: Little, Brown &,
1969. Print. Used for informational reference about the whole story.
Pontikis, Nick. “Echo and Narcissus.” Myth Man’s Homework Help Center. 2003. Thanasi’s
Olympus Greek Restaurant. 1 Mar. 2009 <http://thanasis.com/echo.htm>.