Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses, Part B

My favorite tale was Echo and Narcissus. This story starts out with a prophecy. Tiresias had knowledge of the future and gave faultless answers to those who consulted. When it came to Narcissus, it was said that he would survive as long as he did not discover himself. For a long while, no one knew what that meant so they continued along their lives like everything is normal. Flash forward a few years and there was a young nymph. She was cursed by Juno to only be able to say the last thing of another person's sentence. She would repeat the last word or words of every sentence. One day, she saw Narcissus. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was strong and beautiful. However, she cannot call out to him. He had a feeling though and stepped out of his group to call to her. She responds to his words and runs to him. She flings her arms around his neck. However, after seeing her he is disgusted and he throws her off. Out of shame she runs away to her cave. There she withers away in sorrow until nothing is left but her voice. By scorning her, the other nymphs band together against Narcissus. The goddess of nemesis heard their requests and granted it. As he was walking along the stream to get something to drink, he sees his reflection. Instantly, he falls in love. He swoons and tries to court this beautiful man of the river. Unknowingly courting himself. No one could love like he does and he cannot be pulled away from this perfect coupling. He decides that he would rather die than live without this epic love. As he weeps, the tears alter the image of the water. He thinks that his love is abandoning him. In response, he begins to beat his chest. Between the tears and the beating, he begins to wilt. He is turning into an unrecognizable being. Even after being scorned, Echo returns to make sure that he is alright for she hears him weeping. But, as he lays his head down for the final time, he transforms into a flower of beauty and color.

This is the Narcissus flower. It is said to rival his beauty. Source: Flickr taken by Elaine Williams.

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Hi! I am a junior at the University of Oklahoma. I am studying psychology with a health and exercise science minor. I love psychology because I think people are very interesting. I do not think people realize how similar they are to other people. I think studying psychology has helped me immensely learn how to work with and adapt to those around me both in personal relationships and in work relationships. Over my two years, I have taken some really interesting courses. I think my favorite so far has been social psychology because I think that there is a lot to be learned about those around us. However, my most challenging class was anatomy. I learned so much about the human body and how phenomenal it is that all of these parts work together to create and function us as human beings. As interesting as it was, it was an extremely difficult course. I was pushed to the point of stress I didn't even know I had. I am a better student because of anatomy but in the moment I was overly str...

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Week Twelve Story: The Horned Women

The Horned Women by Joseph Jacobs There was a woman who lived in a cottage. She lived with her family and her staff. One night, after they had all gone to bed she stayed up preparing wool. It was a quiet night until she heard a knock. "Who is there?" she asked. "I am the Witch of One Horn" she answered. Assuming it was one of her neighbors in need of help, she answered the door. To her dismay, it was not a neighbor. A woman with a horn on her forehead entered the room. "Where are the others?" she grumbled "They always take so long". The homeowner was very confused. The witch had made herself at home. It was not long until she heard another knock on the door. Reluctantly she answered it. Standing outside was a woman with two horns on her forehead. The witch charged in to join her sister. Within the hour, ten more arrived. The last having twelve horns on her forehead. They had made a large circle in the room. They were spinning a thread on thei...

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