Plot Overview
The Metamorphoses consists of fifteen
books. They can be divided into six sections. First, the narrator
prays to the gods for inspiration, lays out his theme (metamorphosis),
and states his intention to write a single continuous poem that
stretches from the origins of the world to his own day. Second,
the narrator describes the creation of the world. Primordial chaos
is transformed into an orderly creation, and human life is formed.
Almost immediately, humans start behaving badly. In response to
the general immorality, Jupiter and his brother, Neptune, drown
humanity. The only survivors are Deucalion and Pyrrha, pious people.
Eventually, a new breed of humanity emerges.
The third section spans five books. In this section, Ovid
focuses on the gods and their interactions with mortals. He begins
with the theme of divine rape. In Book I, Apollo attempts to rape
the nymph Daphne, who escapes at the last moment when her father
transforms her into a laurel tree. Jupiter rapes Io, Callisto, and
Europa. In Book II, the narrator recounts the story of Phaethon's
fatal chariot ride, which nearly destroys the world. In Book III,
the narrator tells several stories connected to Cadmus's founding
of Thebes. He writes about the death of Actaeon and Semele, the
birth of Bacchus, and Pentheus's refusal to worship Bacchus. In
Books IV and V, Ovid tells of Perseus's victory over Atlas, his
rescue of and marriage to Andromeda, and his battle with Phineus.
This section ends with a song contest between the Muses and Pierides
and a weaving contest between Minerva and Arachne. The Muses turn
Pierides into magpies, and Minerva turns Arachne into a spider.
In the fourth section, Ovid moves into the realm of heroes
and heroines. The narrator recounts the exploits of Jason, who stole
the fleece from the serpent, and tells several stories about the
power and magic of Medea. He explains Minos's preparations to attack
Athens, and his siege of the city of Alcathous, where Scylla falls
in love with him. The narrator also tells the story of the Myrmidons'
miraculous appearance, and the sad tale of Cephalus and Procris.
He describes the Calydonian boar hunt, and the sad death of Meleager at
his mother's hand. The section concludes with an extended account
of Orpheus's life and tragic death. Orpheus sings in Books X and
XI about the tales of Pygmalion, Myrrha, Hippomenes, and Atalanta.
The fifth section moves us closer to the Trojan War. In
Book XII, the narrator recounts Achilles' battle with Cycnus, whom
he chokes to death. Nestor tells of the battle between Caeneus and
numerous centaurs. We also hear of Ceyx's and Alcyone's love, and
Ajax's verbal contest with Ulysses over the armor of Achilles. Ulysses
defeats Ajax. Ajax commits suicide, and his blood produces a hyacinth flower.
Aeneas seeks to establish his own land and defeats Turnus in battle.
Ovid brings Roman history up through the successive kings of Alba
and the preaching of Pythagoras, who speaks against consuming flesh
and forecasts the rise of Rome. The narrator mentions Caesar and
the rise of Augustus. In the sixth section, which comprises the
epilogue, Ovid prophesies a glorious Roman future and the immortality
of his work.
