Symbols & Connections
What do Cupid’s arrows symbolize?
It symbolizes love, as the arrow bestows love upon the person who is hit.
Zeus: “Fetch your wife here.” - What literary device is used here? (There are 2 uses)
The literary device used here is reverse personification. We say “fetch” to dogs and usually the item that you get is inanimate, not alive.
How does Venus ordering Psyche to complete the tasks affect the relationship between Cupid and Psyche? (Think about what happens when Cupid watches her.)
It affects their relationship because Cupid realizes Psyche's love for him whilst watching her complete these tasks.
How does the element of trust play a role in the relationship between Cupid and Psyche? (Think about what happens when Cupid falls out of love)
Psyche's lack of trust in Cupid's love and her breaking of his trust leads to their separation and a series of trials that could have been avoided if she had trusted him.
As a final task, Venus sends Psyche to the Underworld. She could not reach it without the mysterious guide to help her get there. What does this tell us about the route to the Underworld?
It tells us that the route to the Underworld is very challenging and full of obstacles that make it near impossible for a mortal to reach on his or her own.
Psyche means butterflies in Greek. Why is Psyche compared to a butterfly? (Think about what butterflies symbolize.)
Psyche is compared to a butterfly because butterflies symbolize beauty and transformation.
Narrator: “The king wept all the way home. He was certain his daughter was meant as a sacrifice to some monster.” - What literary device is shown in this quote and why?
The literary device shown here is pathos because we sympathize for the king.
Psyche completes every single one of the seemingly impossible tasks in hopes of seeing Cupid again. What universal lesson does her trials teach the reader about love?
Love is a powerful force that can dictate our actions and make us do things that we would not normally do.
How does the theme of Isolation play a role in this myth? (Think about Psyche)
Psyche is alone after Cupid leaves her. She is also alone before she meets Cupid when Venus curses her not to get married. She is also alone all day in Cupid’s palace. Psyche’s isolation leads to a sense of despair, highlighting the importance of companionship and connections in our lives.
In Cupid’s palace, why are the servants invisible?
Cupid wants to keep his true identity hidden from Psyche, because he wants her to fall in love with him for who he truly is rather than his divine attributes.
“She crawled out of bed and lit the candle. She shone the light on her husband's face and gave a gasp.” What is the candle a symbol of, and why?
The candle is a symbol of enlightenment, but also of curiosity. It can unveil the concealed, for the spark of curiosity leads to discovery and learning.
Venus: “Such an ugly girl. Really the comparisons between us are laughable.” What literary device is used here and how does it reflect the personality of Venus?
The literary device used here is irony. Venus mocks Psyche for her beauty, even though she is considered just as beautiful as Venus. Venus is overcome by jealousy and it shows that she is short tempered and envious of those who do better than her.
How does Cupid refusing to shoot his love arrow at Psyche reflect his personality? (Think about his decisions and his feelings.)
It reflects his personality as a compassionate and sensitive God. It shows he is not a heartless God that blindly follows his mother’s orders. He is capable of making his own decisions and following his heart.
What universal lesson does Cupid and Venus teach the reader about the supernatural? (Think about their decisions and actions, and what lessons can be learned from them.)
The supernatural can play a powerful role in human affairs. Yet, there are consequences for defying or disobeying supernatural beings.
Example: Psyche disobeys Cupid’s request to not look at him, which results in their separation.
How does the emptiness of the temples and altars made for Venus emphasize Psyche’s beauty?
The emptiness of the temples and altars show that the villagers, who formerly prayed to Venus for her beauty, now worship Psyche because they consider her to be more beautiful.
How can Cupid's palace be considered a symbol for Cupid’s love?
Firstly, the luxury and beauty of the palace represents the richness and abundance of Cupid’s love for Psyche. Secondly, the palace being shrouded in mystery and secrecy reflects Cupid’s desire to keep his divine nature hidden.
Narrator: "Venus impatiently waved her hand. ‘Leave that to me. I’ll be sure that the first creature she sets eyes upon will be quite special.'" - How is this statement sarcastic?
Venus tells Cupid that she is going to make sure that Psyche falls in love with someone special. But, this is clearly sarcastic, as Venus does not wish for Psyche to be happy. Although it doesn’t occur, Venus would have made Psyche fall in love with someone terrible.
How does Psyche’s trust in Cupid reflect on Zephyr?
Zephyr is Psyche’s companion, and obeys her orders. When the palace disappeared however, Zephyr was no longer there to help Psyche. This was because she had lost faith in Cupid, and Zephyr could not obey Psyche anymore.
How does the theme of beauty play a role in the story? What universal lesson does the reader learn?
Beauty is the most important overarching theme. Although Psyche’s beauty results in love at first sight for Cupid, it is also a source of jealousy. It teaches the reader that beauty can be a blessing and a curse, for it can have positive and negative consequences.
This myth has a lot of common features as princess stories (evil sisters, magic, quests, etc.). They are very comparable to those in Beauty and the Beast. How does Cupid’s palace relate to the castle in Beauty and the beast? (What sort of feeling do they both give off?)
Both the palace and the castle in Beauty and the Beast are magical, portraying the sort of ominous yet exciting feeling in their buildings.
How is the relationship between Cupid and Psyche similar to that of Romeo and Juliet? (2 main similarities)
1) Forbidden Love: the lovers in both stories are not supposed to be together. Cupid is a god and Psyche is a mortal; while Romeo and Juliet are from feuding families.
2) Secrecy: both couples meet in secret because their love is not accepted by society. Cupid visits Psyche only at night; while Romeo and Juliet sneak around to be together.
Psyche: “I have felt like a hollow shell - a statue of Venus.” - What literary device is used here? Why does she compare herself to a hollow shell?
The literary device used here is a simile because Psyche compares herself to a statue of Venus. By saying ‘a hollow shell,’ it shows that Psyche is liked only for her beauty and not for her personality. She doesn’t like this, as she wants to be loved for who she is.
How do Psyche’s sisters teach the audience the important life lesson that “Envy and jealousy can be destructive”?
When Psyche invites her sisters to the palace, they soon begin to envy Psyche’s new rich life. However, their jealousy gets them kicked out of the palace in brutal fashion. Their words also greatly affect Psyche, who chooses to shine the lamp to unveil her husband’s appearance, which puts her relationship with Cupid in jeopardy.
How does Venus help develop the theme of Jealousy? What universal lesson about jealousy does the reader learn?
Venus helps develop the theme of jealousy by acting upon her feelings. Her jealousy of Psyche’s beauty drives much of the conflict in the story. It also leads her to torment Psyche in an attempt to undermine her happiness.
Universal lesson: Jealousy is a destructive emotion that can lead to pain and suffering for both the jealous person and those around them.
In the story, there are two easily depicted settings: the normal village, and the magical palace. How does the contrast of these two settings reflect on Psyche? (Think about Cupid and his love for her versus the villagers' love for her.)
These two settings show the difference between the worlds Psyche lives in. In the village, Psyche is only admired for her physical beauty, but is ultimately seen as a mere mortal woman. In contrast, in the magical palace, Cupid’s love for her is based on her identity and inner beauty.