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Eight Tales of Lovers
Mrs. Roepka’s Mythology
Read the following stories and answer the questions.
Pyramus and Thisbe
 Who kept Pyramus and Thisbe apart?
 Why do you think they were against Pyramus and Thisbe’s marriage?
 What natural phenomenon does this story explain?
 How is this like the story of Romeo and Juliet?
 Into what comedy does Shakespeare incorporate the story of Pyramus
and Thisbe?
 Do you find Pyramus and Thisbe admirable or silly? Why?
 What do you think your friends might be trying to tell you if they sent you a
branch from a mulberry tree as a gift?
Orpheus and Eurydice
 Why did Orpheus like Psyche?
 How was Orpheus like Psyche?
 Can you think of other stories, old or new, where someone tried to bring a
loved one back from the dead?
 You are Orpheus. Write the words to a memorial song you might sing
about Eurydice.
Ceyx and Alcyone
 Why were Ceyx and Alcyone turned into birds?
 What are “halcyon days”?
Pygmalion and Galatea
 Why did Pygmalion fall in love with a statue and not a real woman?
 Who brought the statue to life?
Baucis and Philemon
 How and why were Baucis and Philemon rewarded?
 What does this story show about the Greeks’ attitude toward trees and
other plant life?
Endymion
 Why doesn’t Endymion ever waken?
 Is the Moon happy? (Give textual evidence for your answer)
 How is this like other stories of “unrequited love”? How is it different?
Daphne
 Why was Daphne turned into a tree?
 Why do you suppose she and her father didn’t just tell Apollo to take a
hike?
 Why did Daphne flee?
 Why do you think Apollo still wanted Daphne even when it became obvious
she didn’t want to be with him?
 According to this myth, why are Greek victors often shown with laurel
crowns?
Alpheus and Arethusa
 How was Arethusa like Daphne?
 How did Arethusa turn into a spring?
 Given a choice, do you think Arethusa would have agreed to this?
 Why do you think there are so many myths about women who wanted
nothing to do with men?
 What was the role of women in Greek society at this time?