O R P H E U S &

Question

E U RY D I C E
CLOSE READING
A STEP BY STEP GUIDE
-Read over the Firt Read Questions. Read through the
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FIRST
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over the Second Read Questions.
onal annotations were necessary. Look for text
• piece. Asl
SECOND
READ
THIRD
READ
-Read over the Third Read Questions.
Read the text aloud with your partner. Add odd tiend
ennotations where necessary.
he main purpose of the third read is to integro!
nowledge and "deas. Ask yourself "What does "
ORPHEUS
AND EURYDICE
cove rivers to change their course, and even charm the trees to
3 5 + PAGES
COMPLETE CLOSE READING UNIT
land of the living, but under one condition: Orpheus must not look
back at her until they were both safely out of the Underworld. If he
did, she would b e lost to him forever.
Orpheus agreed, and Hades called for Eurydice. Together, Orpheus
and Eurydice began the long walk back to the surface. The journey
was difficult, and the path was dark, but Orpheus kept walking,
trusting that Eurydice was behind him. He wanted so badly to turn
around and see her, but he remembered Hades' warning and resisted
t h e urge.
As they neared the entrance to the living world, Orpheus could see the
light just ahead. The temptation to look back grew stronger with each
step. Just before he stepped into the sunlight, fear overcame him.
What if Eurydice wasn't really there? What if Hades had tricked him?
In a moment of doubt, Orpheus turned to look behind him.
To his horror, Eurydice was standing right there. But as soon as their
eyes met, she began to fade. Eurydice reached out to him, but before
she could say a word, she vanished back into the shadows of the
Underworld, lost forever.
Orpheus was devastated. He had come so close to bringing her back,
but now she was gone, and there was nothing he could do. For the rest
of his life, Orpheus wandered the earth, playing sad, mournful music,
always remembering the love he had lost.
NOTES:
O R P H E U S
A N D EURYDICE
CLOSE READING QUESTIONS: FIRST READ
Use the graphic organizer below to summarize the story.
MYTH SUMMARY
WHO WERE THE MAIN CHARACTERS? WHERE DID IT TAKE PLACE?
WHAT WERE THE MAIN EVENTS?
USE THE INFORMATION YOU GATHERED TO SUMMARIZE THE STORY HERE.
O R P H E U S
A N D EURYDICE
CLOSE READING QUESTIONS: SECOND READ
I. What made Orpheus's music so special, and how did it help him
during his journey to the underworld?
2. What condition did Hades give Orpheus in order to bring
Eurydice back to the living world?

Summiraze this all

Answer 1

Summary of "Orpheus and Eurydice"

Main Characters:

• Orpheus: A talented musician known for his enchanting music.
• Eurydice: Orpheus's beloved wife.

Setting:

• The story takes place in the Underworld and the land of the living.

Main Events:

• Orpheus, heartbroken after the death of Eurydice, travels to the Underworld to bring her back.
• Hades agrees to let Eurydice return on the condition that Orpheus must not look back at her until they both reach the surface.
• As they journey back, Orpheus is tempted to turn around despite Hades' warning. He fears that Eurydice may not truly be there.
• Just before they reach the sunlight, Orpheus succumbs to his doubt and looks back, causing Eurydice to fade away and become lost to him forever.
• Devastated by his loss, Orpheus wanders the earth playing mournful music in remembrance of his lost love.

Myth Summary

In the myth of "Orpheus and Eurydice," Orpheus, a gifted musician, ventures into the Underworld to rescue his wife, Eurydice. Hades allows her return under one strict condition: Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice until they are both safely out. As they near the surface, Orpheus's fear and doubt overwhelm him, leading him to look back just before they escape. Unfortunately, this act causes Eurydice to vanish into the shadows of the Underworld forever. Heartbroken, Orpheus spends the rest of his life playing sorrowful music, mourning the love he can never reclaim.

Close Reading Questions:

First Read

1. Orpheus's music was special because it had the power to charm living beings and even the gods, which helped him soothe Hades and gain permission to retrieve Eurydice.
2. Hades stipulated that Orpheus must not look back at Eurydice until they had both reached the land of the living.