The Story of Narcissus

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The Story of Narcissus
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What is the Story About?

• This story is about an extremely handsome young
  man and a beautiful nymph and the tragedy that
  befell them both.
• Think about the story and we will see if we can
  learn anything from the tragic events therein.

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Echo Hera

• Echo was a beautiful nymph who lived in the woods
  and often hunted with the goddess Artemis for
  deer and other wildlife.
• Although she was beautiful, Echo was very
  talkative. One day the goddess Hera was looking
  for her husband, Zeus, in the woods.

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The Curse

• Hera met Echo, who delayed her so long that Hera
  did not find Zeus. Hera was not happy and she
  placed a curse on Echo. This curse did not allow
  Echo to say anything except to repeat what she
  had heard.

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Narcissus

• Narcissus was a very beautiful boy, who grew into
  a most handsome man. He was so beautiful that all
  who met him fell deeply in love with him. But
  Narcissus loved only himself and rejected all
  others.

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Echo Meets Narcissus

• As Echo strolled through the woods one day she
  saw Narcissus and immediately fell deeply in love
  with him. Narcissus could hear someone in the
  woods near him, but could see no-one. He called
  out, Whos here? Unfortunately the cursed Echo
  could only repeat his words. Here, she replied,
  coming out so Narcissus could see her and return
  her love!

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Narcissus Sees His Reflection

• Poor Echo was so shocked when Narcissus rejected
  her that she fled into the mountains.
• After some time had passed, Narcissus was walking
  in the woods one day when he came by a pond of
  crystal clear water. The pond was in a part of
  the wood that people rarely visited. Narcissus
  bent down to take a drink from the pure waters of
  the pond and saw his own reflection looking back
  at him!

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Narcissus Falls in Love

• He instantly became transfixed by his own
  beautiful face. He tried to reach down and
  embrace the image that he saw in the water, he
  tried to bend down and kiss the reflection. But
  of course, as he touched the surface of the
  water, the reflection moved away from him.

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The Tragic End!

• And so, Narcissus became happy just to be able to
  stare at this beautiful creature he saw before
  him and he forgot all about the need to eat and
  drink, as he lay beside the pond, staring at his
  own reflection.

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Narcissus, the Flower

• Narcissus couldnt tear himself away from his new
  found love and eventually he died at the edge of
  the pond, still gazing at his own reflection.
  When his friends came to find his body it had
  gone. In its place grew a beautiful flower that
  we know today as Narcissus.

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