MET: Lesson - Pyramus and Thisbe, Part 1

Image: a painting depicting Thisbe listening through the wallPyramus and Thisbe, Part 1

It is now time to begin reading Pyramus and Thisbe, in Latin. We will be breaking down the poem into four sections. For each section, there will be a brief introduction and a handout. Please take care to complete each handout fully before moving forward in the course.

Part 1 - The Beginning of the Tale

Pyramus and Thisbe, Part 1 establishes the setting and the characters who will be in the tale. Two teenagers, Pyramus, the handsomest boy and Thisbe, the loveliest girl, live in ancient Babylon. The problem: their parents hate each other and refuse to allow their children to associate. Because they are not allowed to be close, and because they are teenagers, the two find a way to meet, though there is a wall that separates them. The young lovers find a crack in the wall, through which they can communicate. Painting: Thisbe (or The Listerner) by John William Waterhouse, 1909.

Download Handout

Please download the Ovid: Metamorphoses - Pyramus and Thisbe, Part 1 Handout Links to an external site.. Complete the handout before continuing in the course.