1. Daedalus and Icarus - So far I feel like everything is really rushed and I don't particularly like it. I'm sure this is a great story, but everything and everyone is being introduced so quickly that I keep losing track. The story of Icarus is one I am familiar with, but even that part was rushed.
2. Philemon and Baucis - I am not sure if this is supposed to have anything to do with the first story or if this book is composed of many separate stories. If it is all supposed to be related, I don't think it did a very good job between these first two. The story of Philemon and Baucis, just by itself, was sweet. It was a heart warming story of the two doing their best to help the Gods even though they have hardly anything themselves.
3. Transformation of Philemon and Baucis - This story is giving me goosebumps it is so sweet! The old couple asking to die at the same time so they wouldn't ever have to be without each other. This particular story shows how kind and giving the Gods could be as well as teaching the lesson that helping can reap rewards, whether it be happiness from helping, or an actual reward.
4. Ceres and Erysichthon - OH! I read the intro to this story and I think I understand why the stories don't connect. I think that it is just a bunch Gods telling stories of humanity. This story, unlike the last, seems to be of how humanity can be violent and foolish. It still seems rushed to me, as if parts of the story have been cut out, but I get the point of it.
5. The Famine - Serves him right! I am curious now, why Ceres and Famine may not ever meet. I understand that they are opposites, but why does that mean they cannot meet? I thought that it was interesting the Famine can cause just the one man to suffer. I was expecting a village wide famine to hit. I am amazed that Famine had settled so far into Erysichthon that he began to eat himself!
6. Achelous - I don't quite understand all of the family relations going on here but I understood the story. He said his third and final form, but earlier, one of the other had stated that he had been a lion as well. I wonder if that was a new occurrence or if it just wasn't mentioned in this story.
7. The Shirt of Nessus - Again with the jumping in the story and the missing of plots! Okay, so the centaur tried to run off with Hercules's bride but got shot. Did Hercules not go to save her? Did he just boat away? Rumour went and told the bride that Hercules loved another, so I guess he didn't make it to the shore to rescue her? I don't understand the flow of this...
8. The Death of Hercules - This was a bit easier to follow but I am got confused when they were talking about the flames. I couldn't tell if they were talking about actual flames, or flames running through Hercules because of the poison in his body. I am enjoying the transformations throughout this unit.
9. Birth of Hercules - This was the most straight forward story so far. I would like to know why Lucina wanted to put Hercules's mother through such suffering and send her life to Juno. I also feel bad for the servant girl, being turned into a weasel and having to give birth through the mouth! Ick!
10. Orpheus and Eurydice - this story was pretty straight forward. I have heard of other stories where looking back would mean the end of some glorious thing. I did not understand the last paragraph at all...
11. Ganymede and Hyacinthus - I was happy to read this story because in the story I read last week, Cupid and Psyche, they mention Ganymede. I wasn't sure, at the beginning of this story, whether Ganymede was a person or the eagle but as I read I realized it was the eagle but was, in fact, once a man. I can sort of grasp the plot of this story but just barely. I have also noticed that the past two stories have had to do with the loss of a loved one. I do notice a pattern between most of the stories.
12. Pygmalion - I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. It goes from talking about bloody alters to Venus and another Goddess prostituting themselves! Did I just read a myth about how the first prostitute came to be? What is the point of that?! After reading Cupid and Psyche I can't imagine Venus stooping to something so low and earthly. I do enjoy hearing the stories about how the Gods are kind to those who are kind to them. It is a heart warming story to hear about Pygmalion and his ivory girl becoming his bride.
13. Myrrha and Cinyras - Okay, so I am getting that Myrrha is the daughter of Cinyras and is in love with her father? If I am right then I appreciate the fact that they are sending the message that incest is a detestable sin.
14. Myrrha and the Nurse - The only thing I can say about this story is that I am now very interested to see where it leads! I am a little surprised that the nurse advised her to go and embrace her father...
15. Myrrha's Punishment - So she turned into a tree... That is a good punishment for incest I suppose. I am curious whether or not it turned her baby into a baby tree inside her or what.
16. Venus and Adonis - Oh! So Adonis was born from a tree? Well that is cool! I think it is interesting that he is considered to be so beautiful when he was conceived from such a great sin.
17. Atalanta and Hippomenes - So Venus is in love with Adonis but Adonis falls in love with Atalanta? That can't be good... and now the great grandson of Neptune himself is stepping up to race her!
18. The Foot-Race - So Neptune's son won the race. With the help of the Gods, that isn't surprising. Also, Adonis didn't get his girl! I wonder what will happen to him now.
19. The Death of Adonis - I like that Adonis's blood was turned into a flower. I think it is very interesting that it was turned into such a weak flower though, to be blown apart by the wind.
No comments:
Post a Comment