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Orpheus and Eurydice: A Tragic Tale

The document recounts the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, where Orpheus, gifted with a lyre by Apollo, attempts to retrieve his beloved Eurydice from the underworld after her untimely death. He is granted permission by Hades to take her back on the condition that he must not look back until they reach the surface. Ultimately, Orpheus loses her forever when he doubts and looks back, leading to her disappearance.

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12 views1 page

Orpheus and Eurydice: A Tragic Tale

The document recounts the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, where Orpheus, gifted with a lyre by Apollo, attempts to retrieve his beloved Eurydice from the underworld after her untimely death. He is granted permission by Hades to take her back on the condition that he must not look back until they reach the surface. Ultimately, Orpheus loses her forever when he doubts and looks back, leading to her disappearance.

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villalobosivonne708
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Reading Exercise

The Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

Orpheus was the son of Apollo. One day,


Apollo gave his son a lyre. Nothing could
resist his melodies, not even enemies or
scariest beasts. Eurydice, a muse, fell in
love with him but their happiness was
short. She died instantly when she was
bitten by a snake. Orpheus sang his grief
with his lyre and every creature was sad
when he did. One day Orpheus decided to
get his beloved back from the underworld.
This was not an easy thing to do. No living
creature could do such thing, only the
dead could go to the underworld. He still
went. He escaped the souls of unknown
people and Gods protected him. He played
his lyre and even Cerberus, the three
headed guardian dog of hell, loved his
music. Eventually he found Hades, the king of the underworld. He played his lyre and it was so
beautiful that it impressed him. Hades said he could take Eurydice back on one condition; he
could not look back until they got out of the underworld. He took Eurydice and started to run
with her but he felt like Hades lied to him. He was not sure the girl behind him was Eurydice
but he wasn’t supposed to look at her. He saw the light of the world eventually. When they were
just about to reach the exit, Orpheus lost his faith and he looked back at Eurydice. It was her.
Then she disappeared in the darkness and Orpheus lost her forever. He continued to sing his
grief with his lyre.
1. Why did Orpheus have to go to the underworld?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….
2. What was the condition of Hades?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….
3. Why did Orpheus look back?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….
4. Would you believe Hades? Would you look back? Why?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
….
5. Which moment of the story do you see in the painting?

*Painting: 1806 Orpheus and Eurydice by C. G. Kratzenstein Stub


By Gülce Yetimoğlu

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