The Metamorphoses (Latin: Metamorphōseōn librī: "Books of Transformations") is a Latin narrative poem by the Roman poet Ovid, considered his magnum opus. Comprising fifteen books and over 250 myths, the poem chronicles the history of the world from its creation to the deification of Julius Caesar within a loose mythico-historical framework.

Although meeting the criteria for an epic, the poem defies simple genre classification by its use of varying themes and tones. Ovid took inspiration from the genre of metamorphosis poetry, and some of the Metamorphoses derives from earlier treatment of the same myths; however, he diverged significantly from all of his models.

One of the most influential works in Western culture, the Metamorphoses has inspired such authors as Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Geoffrey Chaucer, and William Shakespeare. Numerous episodes from the poem have been depicted in acclaimed works of sculpture, painting, and music. Although interest in Ovid faded after the Renaissance, there was a resurgence of attention to his work towards the end of the 20th century. Today the Metamorphoses continues to inspire and be retold through various media. The work has been the subject of numerous translations into English, the first by William Caxton in 1480.^[2]





• Honors Eng. 10 Summer Reading Assignment: CHAPTERS/BOOKS #1-7 ONLY

• Table of Contents
  

1. BOOK ONE: The Creation • The Four Ages • Jove’s Intervention • The Story of Lycaon • The Flood • Deucalion and Pyrrha • Apollo and Daphne • Jove and Io

2. BOOK TWO The Story of Phaethon • Jove in Arcady • The Story of the Raven • The Story of Ocyrhoe • Mercury and Battus • Mercury, Herse, and Aglauros • The House of the Goddess Envy • Europa
   

3. BOOK THREE The Story of Cadmus • The Story of Actaeon • The Story of Semele • The Story of Tiresias • The Story of Echo and Narcissus • The Story of Pentheus and Bacchus
   

4. BOOK FOUR The Story of Pyramus and Thisbe • The Story of Mars and Venus • The Sun-god and Leucothoe • The Story of Salmacis • The End of the Daughters of Minyas • The Story of Athamas and Ino • The End of Cadmus • The Story of Perseus

5. BOOK FIVE The Fighting of Perseus • Minerva Visits the Muses
   

6. BOOK SIX The Story of Niobe • The Story of Tereus, Procne, and Philomela
   

7. BOOK SEVEN The Story of Jason and Medea • War Between Crete and Athens • The Story of Cephalus and Procris
   

8. BOOK EIGHT The Story of Nisus and Scylla • The Story of Daedalus and Icarus • The Calydonian Boar • The Brand of Meleager • The Return of Theseus • The Story of Baucis and Philemon • The Story of Erysichthon
   

9. BOOK NINE The Story of Achelous’ Duel for Deianira • The Story of Hercules, Nessus, and Deianira • The Story of Hercules’ Birth • The Story of Dryope • The Story of Caunus and Byblis • The Story of Iphis and Ianthe
   

10. BOOK TEN The Story of Orpheus and Eurydice • The Story of Cyparissus • The Story of Ganymede • The Story of Apollo and Hyacinthus • Two Incidents of Venus’ Anger • The Story of Pygmalion • The Story of Cinyras and Myrrha • The Story of Adonis • Venus Tells Adonis the Story of Atalanta • The Fate of Adonis
    

11. BOOK ELEVEN The Death of Orpheus • The Story of Midas • Midas Never Learns • The Building of the Walls of Troy • The Story of Thetis • Ceyx Tells the Story of Daedalion • The Story of Peleus’ Cattle • The Quest of Ceyx • The Story of Aesacus and Hesperia
    

12. BOOK TWELVE The Invasion of Troy • Nestor Tells the Story of Caeneus • Story of the Battle with the Centaurs • Nestor Is Asked Why He Omitted Hercules
    

13. BOOK THIRTEEN The Argument between Ajax and Ulysses • After the Fall • The Sacrifice of Polyxena • The Discovery of Polydorus • The Story of Memnon • The Pilgrimage of Aeneas • The Story of Anius’ Daughters • The Pilgrimage Resumed • The Story of Galatea • The Song of Polyphemus • The Transformation of Acis • The Story of Glaucus
    

14. BOOK FOURTEEN The Story of Glaucus Continued • The Pilgrimage of Aeneas Resumed • Achaemenides Tells His Story • The Story of Picus • The Pilgrimage of Aeneas Resumed • The Narrative of Diomedes • The Return of Venulus • The Deification of Aeneas • Legendary History of Rome • Pomona and Vertumnus • The Story of Iphis and Anaxarete • More Early Roman History
    

15. BOOK FIFTEEN The Succession of Numa • The Teachings of Pythagoras • The Return of Numa • The Story of Hippolytus • The Story of Cipus • The Story of Aesculapius • The Deification of Caesar • The Epilogue
    

Glossary and Index



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