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Reading schedule · Grades 9–12

Ovid's Metamorphoses in 6 Weeks: A Reading Schedule

A six-week plan for reading Metamorphoses by Ovid, one section a week. Each week gives the reading, a short summary of what happens, three discussion questions and the escape room that goes with it. For grades 9–12, in class or at home.

Pacing

Rhetoric-stage students (grades 9–12) can read a section a week independently, with time to annotate and to write. The questions suit seminar discussion or short written responses, and the escape room makes a quick check on the reading before the conversation or the essay. Some sections are much longer than others, so look ahead and give the heaviest weeks extra time.

Each week ends with an escape room on that week's reading: seven self-checking locks that run in any browser, with no logins, and progress is saved, so a room can be finished another day. Every room has free taster locks to try, and members can open them all.

Print this schedule Escape rooms on Ovid's Metamorphoses

Week 1: Books 1–2

Read: Books 1–2

Ovid begins with the creation of the world and the four ages, Lycaon, and the flood, after which Deucalion and Pyrrha make new people from stones. Apollo kills the Python and pursues Daphne, Io is guarded by Argus, Phaethon rides in the Sun's chariot, and Callisto and Europa feel the power of the gods.

Discussion questions

1. What do the four ages suggest about human history?
2. Why does Daphne's change both save and defeat her?
3. How does Ovid show the gods' power, and do they use it well?

Escape room: The First Changes (lockedlessons.com/rooms/metamorphoses-books-1-2/)

Week 2: Books 3–4

Read: Books 3–4

Cadmus kills a serpent and founds Thebes, and its royal house suffers: Actaeon, Semele and Pentheus all meet terrible ends. Echo and Narcissus, the daughters of Minyas with their tale of Pyramus and Thisbe, the end of Cadmus, and Perseus with Atlas, Andromeda and the Gorgon's head complete the section.

Discussion questions

1. Is Actaeon guilty of anything?
2. What links the stories of Echo, Narcissus and Pyramus and Thisbe?
3. Why might Ovid gather so many disasters around Thebes?

Escape room: Echoes of Thebes (lockedlessons.com/rooms/metamorphoses-books-3-4/)

Week 3: Books 5–7

Read: Books 5–7

A fight breaks out at Perseus' wedding, and the Muses tell of their contest, including the story of Ceres and Proserpina. Arachne, Niobe and the Lycian peasants all challenge the gods, Jason and Medea meet in Colchis, Medea's magic serves and then terrifies before she flees to Athens, and the stories of the Myrmidons and of Cephalus and Procris follow.

Discussion questions

1. What do Arachne and Niobe have in common?
2. How does Ovid make Medea both sympathetic and frightening?
3. Why are contests with the gods so dangerous in these books?

Escape room: Rivals of the Gods (lockedlessons.com/rooms/metamorphoses-books-5-7/)

Week 4: Books 8–9

Read: Books 8–9

Scylla betrays her father for love of Minos, the Minotaur is shut away and Ariadne helps Theseus, and Daedalus and Icarus fly from Crete. The Calydonian boar hunt, Baucis and Philemon, the hunger of Erysichthon, Hercules' fight with Achelous and his death through Nessus, and the stories of Galanthis, Dryope and Iphis follow.

Discussion questions

1. How does the story of Baucis and Philemon contrast with that of Erysichthon?
2. What does the story of Daedalus and Icarus say about invention?
3. How does Hercules leave the world?

Escape room: Feathers and Wax (lockedlessons.com/rooms/metamorphoses-books-8-9/)

Week 5: Books 10–11

Read: Books 10–11

Orpheus loses Eurydice and sings of Cyparissus, Hyacinthus, Pygmalion, Venus and Adonis, and Atalanta and Hippomenes. After his death, Midas gains his golden touch and judges the music contest of Pan and Apollo, Peleus wins Thetis, and Ceyx and Alcyone are parted by the sea.

Discussion questions

1. What do the songs of Orpheus have in common?
2. Why is Pygmalion rewarded while so many others are punished?
3. How does the story of Ceyx and Alcyone end, and is it happy?

Escape room: The Singer's Grief (lockedlessons.com/rooms/metamorphoses-books-10-11/)

Week 6: Books 12–15

Read: Books 12–15

The Greek fleet gathers at Aulis, Achilles dies, his armour is contested, Troy falls and Hecuba grieves. Galatea, Acis and Polyphemus, Glaucus, Scylla and Circe, and the wanderings of Aeneas lead on to Rome, where Romulus becomes a god, Numa hears the teaching of Pythagoras, Aesculapius arrives and Julius Caesar passes from the earth.

Discussion questions

1. How does Ovid retell the Trojan War differently from Homer?
2. What does Pythagoras teach about change?
3. Why does the poem end with Rome?

Escape room: From Troy to Rome (lockedlessons.com/rooms/metamorphoses-books-12-15/)

Nothing in this schedule is quoted from any translation, so it can sit beside whichever one your class reads.