1. Who was Narcissus?
Answer:
Narcissus was a young and handsome man from Greek mythology. His beauty made many people, including gods and nymphs, fall in love with him. However, he was arrogant and did not return their affections.
2. Who was Echo?
Answer:
Echo was a nymph who loved to talk. After angering Hera, she was cursed to only repeat the last words spoken to her, losing her ability to speak freely.
3. What curse did Hera place on Echo?
Answer:
Hera cursed Echo to only be able to repeat the last words spoken by others. This curse was a punishment for distracting Hera with endless chatter while Zeus pursued his illicit affairs.
4. How did Echo fall in love with Narcissus?
Answer:
Echo saw Narcissus while he was wandering in the forest. She was instantly captivated by his beauty but was too shy to approach him due to her cursed speech.
5. What happened when Echo tried to talk to Narcissus?
Answer:
When Echo repeated Narcissus’s words, he was confused and thought someone was mocking him. When she revealed herself, Narcissus cruelly rejected her, leaving her heartbroken.
6. Why did Echo hide in a cave?
Answer:
After being harshly rejected by Narcissus, Echo was overcome with shame and embarrassment. She retreated to a dark cave and withered away until only her voice remained.
7. What did Narcissus see in the pool?
Answer:
Narcissus saw his own reflection in the clear water of a pool. Mistaking it for another person, he fell deeply in love with his own image.
8. What was the fate of Narcissus?
Answer:
Narcissus became so obsessed with his reflection that he couldn’t leave the pool. Eventually, he withered away and transformed into the flower that bears his name, the Narcissus.
9. What lesson does the story of Narcissus teach?
Answer:
The story highlights the dangers of vanity and self-obsession. Narcissus’s inability to love others, and ultimately himself, led to his downfall.
10. Why was Echo cursed by Hera?
Answer:
Echo was cursed because she distracted Hera with endless conversation, allowing Zeus to continue his affairs without being caught. Hera punished Echo out of anger and frustration.
11. How does Echo’s voice still live on?
Answer:
Even though Echo’s body disappeared, her voice still roams the world. It repeats the last words spoken by others, as it did during her curse.
12. How did Narcissus treat the people who loved him?
Answer:
Narcissus was known for cruelly rejecting anyone who loved him. He scorned many hearts, which eventually led to his downfall when one of his rejected lovers prayed for his punishment.
13. Who prayed against Narcissus, and why?
Answer:
One of the people Narcissus had scorned prayed to the gods for him to feel the pain of unrequited love. The gods answered this prayer by making Narcissus fall in love with his own reflection.
14. What role does reflection play in the story?
Answer:
Narcissus falls in love with his own reflection in a pool, not realizing it is himself. This reflection symbolizes his narcissism and inability to love anyone but himself.
15. Why is the flower named Narcissus?
Answer:
The flower is named after Narcissus because, in the myth, his body transformed into this flower after he died. The flower’s habit of growing near water and bending towards it mirrors Narcissus’s obsession with his reflection.
16. What does Echo’s name symbolize in modern language?
Answer:
Echo’s name has come to symbolize the repetition of sound. Just like her cursed voice, an echo repeats the last part of any sound it hears.
17. What was Narcissus’s reaction to Echo’s affection?
Answer:
Narcissus rejected Echo’s affection harshly, pushing her away and mocking her. His cruel behavior contributed to Echo’s ultimate disappearance.
18. What does the myth suggest about self-love?
Answer:
The myth suggests that excessive self-love, or narcissism, is dangerous. Narcissus’s inability to care for others and his obsession with his own beauty led to his tragic end.
19. How did Narcissus’s arrogance lead to his downfall?
Answer:
Narcissus’s arrogance and disregard for others caused those he rejected to pray for his punishment. His obsession with his own reflection ultimately led to his demise.
20. What moral can be drawn from the story of Echo and Narcissus?
Answer:
The story warns against vanity and selfishness. It suggests that loving oneself to the exclusion of others can lead to isolation, suffering, and destruction.
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