fluffybunny Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) Before I begin reading aloud this narrative version of Metamorphoses to my teens, are there any "surprises", ie sex or violence? If so how explicit? Thank you 😊 Edited October 30, 2016 by fluffybunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chanley Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 IT has been a very long time since I delved into any of Ovid's work but if I recall, rape is a common theme. I think that includes both sex and violence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Totally depends on what they've done with this particular narrative version. The stories of Ovid, and ancient mythology in general, are riddled with sex and violence - gods raping mortal women is a common theme. Then there are stories like Niobe's - she angers Artemis and Apollo kills all 12 of her children in front of her. In the story of Bacchus & Pentheus, Pentheus is ripped to shreds by his mother in a Bacchic frenzy. So yes, there is lots and lots of sex and violence inherent in the mythology. If you're concerned a pre-reading or pre-skimming of the stories is your best bet. Different translations and adaptations may omit or tone down some of the stories. The originals are pretty much chock full of violence, though. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffybunny Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Thanks. The version I bought was this one: Metamorphoses by Mary Innes. Has anyone read that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 (edited) I haven't read that translation, but looking at the TOC, that's the full Monty - all the stories are included. So yes, some will be gruesome and/or violent. My dd read this version: Tales from Ovid translated by Ted Hughes. It's a beautiful translation, definitely true to the original, but it's selected tales, not all the stories. It still has some of the violent ones, but it's definitely tamer than the Rolf Humpries version that I read, which looks very similar to the one that you have. The Hughes version is a much gentler introduction to Ovid than the full version. While still being a high school/adult level version, not a children's version. Edited October 31, 2016 by Chrysalis Academy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffybunny Posted October 31, 2016 Author Share Posted October 31, 2016 Thank you Rose. I just ordered a copy of that one to read instead :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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