Cupid and Psyche from The Golden Ass

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Questions and Answers

What does Psyche use to try to learn her husband's identity?

A mirror

A candle

An oil-lamp (correct)

A crystal ball

What happens when Cupid is awakened by the spilled oil from the lamp?

He forgives Psyche

He transforms into a different form

He reveals his identity

He flies out the window (correct)

What task does Venus assign to Psyche as punishment?

To find a hidden treasure

To collect golden apples

To complete four Labors (correct)

To slay a dragon

Which mythological concept does Psyche's journey to the Underworld represent?

Katabasis Signup and view all the answers

Why does Venus want Psyche to fail in her tasks?

She dislikes her son’s marriage Signup and view all the answers

What role does divine help play in Psyche's task completion?

It aids her success Signup and view all the answers

Which character's labor does Psyche's challenge parallel?

Perseus Signup and view all the answers

What happens to Psyche under Venus's command at the last Labor?

She faces death Signup and view all the answers

What is the main significance of Psyche's name in the context of the myth?

It symbolizes the soul both in life and after death. Signup and view all the answers

What genre is The Golden Ass best classified as?

Ancient prose novel Signup and view all the answers

Which character narrates the tale of Cupid and Psyche within The Golden Ass?

Lucius Signup and view all the answers

What unusual event occurs to the protagonist, Lucius, in The Golden Ass?

He is turned into a donkey. Signup and view all the answers

What is the overall tone of The Golden Ass compared to the Psyche myth?

Bawdy, except in the Psyche myth Signup and view all the answers

In what region was the author Lucius Apuleius based during the time of writing The Golden Ass?

North Africa Signup and view all the answers

What is the narrative style of the myth of Cupid and Psyche within The Golden Ass?

It is lengthy and central to the plot. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about The Golden Ass is true?

It is a humorous tale that includes serious themes. Signup and view all the answers

What do the adventures of Psyche symbolize?

The maturing and ennobling effect of romantic love Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of the Orphism religion in the Psyche story?

It provides a background for the challenges faced in the Underworld Signup and view all the answers

What significant event happens to Lucius in the narrative?

He joins the Mysteries of the Egyptian goddess Isis Signup and view all the answers

How does the beginning of the Cupid and Psyche tale resemble Beauty and the Beast?

Both narrate the tale of an odd marriage Signup and view all the answers

What defines Cupid in Apuleius' narrative?

He is depicted as the son of Venus who falls in love with Psyche Signup and view all the answers

What challenge does the Orphic document predict for souls in the Underworld?

They will face crucial choices and temptations Signup and view all the answers

What character does Venus mistakenly want Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with?

An ugly old man Signup and view all the answers

What is the main theme in Psyche's journey in the Underworld?

The successful navigation of life after death Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cupid and Psyche

The story of Cupid and Psyche, a late Greek myth, is found in Lucius Apuleius's Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass).
Apuleius, a Roman author, did not invent the myth but incorporated it into his larger story.
The Golden Ass is a Roman novel, known for its complete survival and engaging content.
Psyche, the heroine, represents the soul both during life and after death.
The myth explores romantic love and the challenges of marriage.
Psyche's adventures are also symbolic of the soul's journey toward attainment of a good afterlife.
The myth is structurally important in the Golden Ass.

Psyche's Myth

Psyche, exceptionally beautiful, is the subject of her jealous mother-in-law, Venus's, instructions for an arranged marriage.
Cupid, son of Venus, secretly marries Psyche.
Psyche, under instruction from Cupid, is forbidden to see him.
Psyche disobeys by looking at Cupid revealing him as the god of love, and he leaves her.
Psyche faces trials set by Venus.
Psyche ultimately succeeds in her trials with divine help.

Psyche's Journey to the Underworld

Psyche's final task is to retrieve a beauty jar from the Underworld for Venus.
Her journey references classical myths and heroes such as Heracles, Odysseus and Orpheus.
Psyche's journey parallels other hero-journeys featuring trials and tests.
Psyche's journey to the underworld encompasses challenges and choices symbolizing the soul's journey.
The journey features figures such as Charon & Cerberus and an encounter with Proserpina

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Description

Explore the captivating myth of Cupid and Psyche, a tale embedded in Apuleius's Metamorphoses. This quiz delves into Psyche's trials, her love story with Cupid, and the deeper themes surrounding the soul and romantic challenges. Discover how this myth remains a vital part of the narrative structure in the Golden Ass.