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Q3 Myth Assessment 1

Last updated almost 4 years ago
13 questions
Note from the author:
Echo and Narcissus interim Q3 assessment
Thomas Bulfinch (1796–1867).  Age of Fable: Vols. I & II: Stories of Gods and Heroes.  1913.
XIII. b.  Echo and Narcissus

ECHO was a beautiful nymph, fond of the woods and hills, where she devoted herself to woodland sports. She was a favorite of Diana, and attended her in the chase. But Echo had one failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. One day Juno was seeking her husband, who, she had reason to fear, was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived to detain the goddess till the nymphs made their escape. When Juno discovered it, she passed sentence upon Echo in these words: “You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one purpose you are so fond of—reply. You shall still have the last word, but no power to speak first.”     

This nymph saw Narcissus, a beautiful youth, as he pursued the chase upon the mountains. She loved him and followed his footsteps. O how she longed to address him in the softest accents, and win him to converse! but it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her answer ready. One day the youth, being separated from his companions, shouted aloud, “Who’s here?” Echo replied, “Here.” Narcissus looked around, but seeing no one called out, “Come.” Echo answered, “Come.” As no one came, Narcissus called again, “Why do you shun me?” Echo asked the same question. “Let us join one another,” said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!” “Have me,” said she; but it was all in vain. He left her, and she went to hide her blushes in the recesses of the woods. From that time forth she lived in caves and among mountain cliffs. Her form faded with grief, till at last all her flesh shrank away. Her bones were changed into rocks and there was nothing left of her but her voice. With that she is still ready to reply to any one who calls her, and keeps up her old habit of having the last word.   

Narcissus’s cruelty in this case was not the only instance. He shunned all the rest of the nymphs, as he had done poor Echo. One day a maiden who had in vain endeavored to attract him uttered a prayer that he might some time or other feel what it was to love and meet no return of affection. The avenging goddess heard and granted the prayer.   

There was a clear fountain, with water like silver, to which the shepherds never drove their flocks, nor the mountain goats resorted, nor any of the beasts of the forest; neither was it defaced with fallen leaves or branches; but the grass grew fresh around it, and the rocks sheltered it from the sun. Hither came one day the youth, fatigued with hunting, heated and thirsty. He stooped down to drink, and saw his own image in the water; he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, those locks curled like the locks of Bacchus or Apollo, the rounded cheeks, the ivory neck, the parted lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace the beloved object. It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed the fascination. He could not tear himself away; he lost all thought of food or rest, while he hovered over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked with the supposed spirit: “Why, beautiful being, do you shun me? Surely my face is not one to repel you. The nymphs love me, and you yourself look not indifferent upon me. When I stretch forth my arms you do the same; and you smile upon me and answer my beckonings with the like.” His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. As he saw it depart, he exclaimed, “Stay, I entreat you! Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you.” With this, and much more of the same kind, he cherished the flame that consumed him, so that by degrees he lost his color, his vigor, and the beauty which formerly had so charmed the nymph Echo. She kept near him, however, and when he exclaimed, “Alas! alas!” she answered him with the same words. He pined away and died; and when his shade passed the Stygian river, it leaned over the boat to catch a look of itself in the waters. The nymphs mourned for him, especially the water-nymphs; and when they smote their breasts Echo smote hers also. They prepared a funeral pile and would have burned the body, but it was nowhere to be found; but in its place a flower, purple within, and surrounded with white leaves, which bears the name and preserves the memory of Narcissus.
1

How does the author's description of Echo's woodland skills and interests in paragraph 1 advance the plot?

1

What is the meaning of the word shunned in paragraph 3?

1

What phrase from paragraph 3 best supports the answer to Question 2 above?

1

How does the outcome of paragraph 2 contribute to the main theme of the passage?

1

What phrase from paragraph 2 best supports the answer to Question 4 above?

2

TEACHER Choice 1: Narcissus Drag and drop the statements to show the effects of each event within the passage.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
Narcissus' plea for Echo to reveal herself
creates suspense by foreshadowing Echo's disappointment
Narcissus' rejection of Echo
creates a sense of mystery about whether Narcissus can love another
Narcissus' discovery of the fountain
creates tension surrounding Narcissus' ability to truly see others for what they are
Narcissus' separation from his companions
creates a sense of tragedy as Narcissus' fate is determined
2

TEACHER Choice 2: Echo: Drag and drop the statements to show the effects of each event within the passage.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
Echo's reaction to Narcissus' rejection
creates suspense by foreshadowing Echo's rejection by Narcissus
Echo's decision to pursue Narcissus
creates a sense of mystery about whether Echo can get Narcissus' attention
Echo's punishment by Juno
creates tension surrounding Narcissus' ability to accept others as worthy of his love
Echo's attempt to touch Narcissus
creates a sense of tragedy as Echo's fate is determined
2

Drag and drop each detail from the myth to show how it helps develop an aspect of Echo's relationship with Narcissus.

  • "She kept near him, however"
  • "She waited with impatience for him to speak first"
  • "The maid answered with all her heart in the same words"
  • "when they smote their breasts Echo smote hers also"
  • Echo feels frustrated by Narcissus
  • Echo chooses to stay with Narcissus
1

In the last paragraph, what does the word "hovered" suggest about what Narcissus believes about the image he sees in the fountain?

1

What phrase supports the answer to question 8 above?

4

Imagine you are Echo's ghost, wandering the earth forever.

(Imagine, too, that although Juno's curse has left you unable to speak properly, you can still write!)

As Echo's ghost, write a journal entry which explains your conflicted feelings about the death of Narcissus. In your journal entry, use details from the original myth about a) how Narcissus sees himself, b) how Echo sees Narcissus, and c) Juno's interference in the fates of both Echo and Narcissus to support your response.

Your grade for this writing will be based on all of the following:

Your ability to accurately identify and describe the conflicted feelings Echo experiences
Your ability to accurately explain why Echo feels this way.
Your ability to support your answer effectively by choosing and using appropriate textual evidence.
Your ability to apply the specified genre (journal entry) appropriately and effectively to do all of the above.

Ted Hughes (1930-1998).  Tales from Ovid (1997)

Echo and Narcissus

Chorus:
Narcissus infatuated many.
His beauty had flowered.
But none dared be familiar,
None dared touch him.
A day came, out on the mountain,
When Echo saw him.

Echo:
Echo saw him.

Chorus:
Echo saw Narcissus.
She was in love.
She followed him
Like a starving wolf,
But had to wait
For some other to speak.
Narcissus strayed apart
From his companions.

Narcissus:
Where are you?
I’m here.

Echo:
I’m here, I’m here, I’m here, I’m here.

Narcissus:
I’ll stay here.
You come to me.

Echo:
Come to me,
To me, to me, to me.

Narcissus:
Stay there.

Echo:
Stay there, stay there, stay there.

Narcissus:
Let’s meet halfway. Come.

Echo:
Come, come, come, come.

Narcissus:
No, I would sooner be dead
Than let you touch me.

Echo:
Touch me, touch me, touch me, touch me.

Chorus:
Echo hid
In the deep woods.
She brooded over the pain.
Her bones turned into stone.
Her voice roamed off by itself.

Echo:
Let Narcissus love and suffer.
Let him love and know it is hopeless.
Let him, like Echo, perish of anguish.

Chorus:
Nemesis, the corrector,
Heard this prayer and granted it.
Weary with hunting and the hot sun
Narcissus found a pool.
As he drank
A strange new thirst
Entered his body,
Entered his eyes.
He could not believe
The beauty of those eyes
That gazed into his own.

As the taste of water flooded him
So did love.

Narcissus:
Was there ever a love
As cruel as mine?
Was there ever a love
As futureless as mine?
We are kept apart
Neither by seas nor mountains
Nor the locked-up gates of cities.

Who are you? Come out.
Come up onto the land.
I never saw beauty
To compare with yours.
I stretch my arms to you,
You stretch yours as eagerly to me.
You laugh when I laugh.
When I tell you my love
I see your lips
Seeming to tell me yours.
My beauty is in full bloom –
But I am a cut flower.
Let death come quickly –
Carry me off
Where this pain can never follow.

Chorus:
Narcissus wept into the pool.
His image blurred.

Narcissus:
Don’t leave me.

Chorus:
Like wax near the flame
He melted –
Consumed by his love.
He disappeared from his own eyes.

Narcissus:
Alas!

Echo:
Alas.

Narcissus:
Farewell you incomparable boy,
I have loved you in vain.
Farewell.

Echo:
Farewell.

Chorus:
When he entered the Land of the Dead
Narcissus ran straight to the banks of the Styx.
He gazed down at the smear of his shadow
Trembling on the fearful current.
0

What is the effect of structuring the poem as a dramatic script?

0

How does the narrative of the poem differ from the original myth?