Myth and Literature - 23BENA4 Lesson 1: Selections from Tales from Ovid by Ted Hughes - Creation; Four Ages; Flood; Lycaon

 Myth and Literature - 23BENA4

Lesson 1: Selections from Tales from Ovid by Ted Hughes - Creation; Four Ages; Flood; Lycaon

Overview

Ted Hughes’ Tales from Ovid is a modern retelling of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a Roman work that explores myths of transformation. Hughes adapts the ancient myths into accessible, powerful narratives. In the stories of Creation, Four Ages, Flood, and Lycaon, he captures the essence of Ovid’s themes: the origins of the world, the moral decline of humanity, the cleansing flood, and the punishment of Lycaon for his wickedness. Hughes’ retelling emphasizes the universal and timeless nature of these stories, exploring themes of creation, destruction, and moral consequence.

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Key Parts of the Stories

1. Creation

o In the Creation myth, the universe emerges from chaos. A divine being separates elements (earth, water, fire, and air) to form the world. Creation myths often serve to answer humanity’s fundamental questions about existence.

2. The Four Ages

o The Four Ages—Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Iron—depict the moral degeneration of humanity over time. Each age represents a stage of human development, from the innocence of the Golden Age to the violence and corruption of the Iron Age.

3. The Flood

o In response to human wickedness, the gods decide to flood the earth to cleanse it. Deucalion and Pyrrha, the only survivors, repopulate the earth by casting stones, which transform into people.

4. Lycaon

o Lycaon, a king, tests Zeus by serving him human flesh. Disgusted by Lycaon’s wickedness, Zeus punishes him by transforming him into a wolf, symbolizing the consequences of hubris and disrespect toward the divine.

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Two-Mark Questions with Answers

1. What is the Creation myth in Tales from Ovid?

o The Creation myth describes the universe emerging from chaos, with a divine being organizing elements into the earth, sea, and sky.

2. What does the Golden Age represent in the Four Ages?

o The Golden Age represents a time of peace and innocence when humans lived in harmony with nature.

3. What is the significance of the Flood in Tales from Ovid?

o The Flood signifies the gods’ attempt to cleanse the earth of human corruption, restarting civilization with pure survivors.

4. Who are Deucalion and Pyrrha?

o Deucalion and Pyrrha are the only human survivors of the Flood, tasked with repopulating the earth by casting stones that transform into people.

5. How is Lycaon punished by Zeus?

o Lycaon is transformed into a wolf as punishment for his wickedness and disrespect toward the gods.

6. What does the Silver Age signify in the Four Ages?

o The Silver Age signifies a period when humans began to struggle and work for survival, lacking the harmony of the Golden Age.

7. What moral lesson is conveyed in the story of Lycaon?

o The story of Lycaon teaches the consequences of hubris and disrespect for divine authority.

8. How are people recreated after the Flood?

o People are recreated when Deucalion and Pyrrha cast stones, which transform into new human beings.

9. What does the Iron Age symbolize?

o The Iron Age symbolizes the peak of human corruption, with war, violence, and moral decay prevailing.

10. How does Hughes portray the theme of transformation in Tales from Ovid?

o Hughes emphasizes transformation as both a physical and moral change, illustrating how people’s actions affect their fate.

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Five-Mark Questions with Answers

1. Describe the significance of the Creation myth in Tales from Ovid.

o The Creation myth in Tales from Ovid provides an account of how the universe came into being from chaos, emphasizing the separation of elements by a divine force. This myth reflects humanity’s fascination with origins and serves as a foundation for understanding the cosmos. The organization of earth, sea, and sky introduces the concept of divine order, suggesting that the world’s structure is intentional and sacred. Hughes captures the awe and mystery of creation, showing the importance of balance and harmony in the universe.

2. Explain the moral progression through the Four Ages in Tales from Ovid.

o The Four Ages—Golden, Silver, Bronze, and Iron—depict the gradual decline of humanity from innocence to corruption. The Golden Age is idealized, a time of peace without suffering or conflict. In the Silver and Bronze Ages, humans experience hardship and start to develop aggressive tendencies. The Iron Age represents the darkest period, where moral decay leads to war and violence. Through this progression, Hughes illustrates the loss of innocence and the consequences of human greed and aggression, emphasizing the importance of moral integrity.

3. How do Deucalion and Pyrrha survive the Flood, and what role do they play afterward?

o Deucalion and Pyrrha survive the Flood because of their righteousness and piety, distinguishing them from the corrupt humans. After the floodwaters recede, they are chosen to repopulate the earth. Following a divine message, they throw stones behind them, which transform into people. Their role symbolizes hope and rebirth, as they re-establish humanity with a purified lineage. This myth highlights themes of renewal and resilience, as well as the idea that goodness can endure even amidst devastation.

4. Discuss the punishment of Lycaon and its symbolic meaning.

o Lycaon’s punishment by Zeus, who transforms him into a wolf, serves as a powerful symbol of the consequences of wickedness. By attempting to deceive and disrespect the gods, Lycaon embodies hubris and moral depravity. His transformation into a beast represents the loss of humanity, suggesting that evil actions can strip individuals of their human qualities. Hughes uses this story to underscore the dangers of pride and sacrilege, showing that those who defy the divine order face severe consequences.

5. How does Hughes explore the theme of human nature in the Flood myth?

o In the Flood myth, Hughes explores human nature’s potential for both corruption and purity. While the flood is a response to widespread wickedness, Deucalion and Pyrrha’s survival illustrates that goodness persists despite humanity’s flaws. The flood acts as a metaphor for cleansing, symbolizing the need to purge negative traits to restore balance. Through this story, Hughes reflects on humanity’s dual capacity for destruction and renewal, highlighting the importance of moral integrity for societal survival.

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Essay Question with Detailed Answer

Essay Question: Analyze the themes of creation, moral decline, and transformation in the stories of Creation, Four Ages, Flood, and Lycaon from Ted Hughes’ Tales from Ovid. Provide examples to illustrate your answer.

• Introduction:

o Ted Hughes’ Tales from Ovid presents a powerful retelling of ancient myths, each reflecting timeless themes such as creation, moral decline, and transformation. In the stories of Creation, Four Ages, Flood, and Lycaon, Hughes explores humanity’s origins, the gradual moral degeneration over time, and the transformative consequences of sin. These themes resonate with universal questions about existence, morality, and redemption, illustrating the cyclical nature of creation and destruction that defines both myth and human experience.

• Subtitles and Explanations:

1. Creation and the Concept of Divine Order

 The Creation myth establishes a divine order where chaos is transformed into harmony. Hughes emphasizes the beauty and wonder of creation, highlighting the divine act of separating elements—earth, water, fire, and air—to form a balanced universe. This theme reflects humanity’s need to find order and meaning in existence.

2. The Golden Age: An Idealized Innocence

 The Golden Age in the Four Ages myth symbolizes an era of innocence, peace, and abundance. Humans live in harmony with nature, and there is no need for laws or punishment. This age represents an ideal that later ages fail to uphold, marking the beginning of moral decline as humanity drifts away from its original purity.

3. The Silver Age: Introduction of Labor and Struggle

 The Silver Age introduces hardship, as humans begin to work for survival and experience seasons of cold and warmth. This shift signifies a loss of innocence and a move toward a more complex, challenging existence, emphasizing that human development comes with sacrifices.

4. The Bronze Age: Growth of Aggression

 In the Bronze Age, humans become more aggressive, using bronze weapons and engaging in conflict. Hughes shows how the introduction of violence signals further moral decline, suggesting that humanity’s desire for power corrupts its fundamental goodness.

5. The Iron Age: Moral Decay and Corruption

 The Iron Age represents the lowest point of human morality, marked by war, deceit, and greed. Hughes portrays this age as the darkest, where humanity is farthest from the ideal, illustrating the consequences of moral decay and the dangers of unrestrained ambition.

6. The Flood: Divine Retribution and Cleansing

 The flood serves as a divine response to human corruption, symbolizing the need for cleansing and renewal. By wiping out the wicked, the flood paves the way for a new, purified humanity, reflecting themes of destruction as a precursor to rebirth.

7. Survival of Deucalion and Pyrrha: Hope and Renewal

 Deucalion and Pyrrha’s survival represents the resilience of goodness amidst chaos. Their role in repopulating the earth with a new generation symbolizes hope, illustrating that purity can endure even in a morally corrupt world.

8. Lycaon’s Transformation: Consequences of Wickedness

 Lycaon’s punishment by transformation into a wolf serves as a warning against hubris and disrespect for the divine. His metamorphosis symbolizes the dehumanizing effects of evil, showing that immoral actions lead to a loss of humanity.

9. The Theme of Transformation Across the Myths

 Transformation is a recurring theme, with the universe itself transforming from chaos, humanity evolving through the Four Ages, and individuals like Lycaon changing as a result of their actions. Hughes uses transformation to illustrate both positive and negative consequences of human behavior.

10. The Cyclical Nature of Creation and Destruction

 Hughes’ retelling reflects the cyclical nature of creation and destruction, showing that the universe and humanity undergo repeated cycles of growth and decline. This concept suggests that morality and existence are fluid, with constant changes that challenge individuals and societies.

• Conclusion:

o In Tales from Ovid, Ted Hughes captures the profound themes of creation, moral decline, and transformation, presenting ancient myths as reflections of human nature. Through stories like Creation, Four Ages, Flood, and Lycaon, Hughes illustrates the complexity of morality, the consequences of human actions, and the inevitability of change. These myths offer timeless lessons, reminding readers of the fragile balance between order and chaos that defines the human experience.