D. When Cupid pierces himself with his arrow, he falls in love with Psyche but cannot reveal his identity, as Venus has cast a spell on Psyche so that she can only marry a monster. Psyche, however, does not heed Cupid's wish to trust him and looks on his beautiful face, which hurts him in the end.
adapted from Cupid and Psyche
by Josephine Preston Peabody
A king had three daughters, and Psyche was the fairest—so stunning, in fact, that strangers took her for Venus, goddess of beauty.
This angered Venus, so she called hither her son Cupid. "Wound this precious mortal maid called Psyche, and let her fall in love with some churlish creature," commanded Venus.
Cupid made ready his arrows and flew to earth, but, so moved by her loveliness, he unintentionally wounded himself with his own shaft and fell instantly in love with Psyche. He returned to the heavens, saying not a word of what had passed.
Venus, seeing no favorable results, put a spell upon the maiden so that no suitor would come to woo her, and then destined her to marry a monster.
Giving in to her fate, Psyche climbed the mountaintop where the wind carried her to a place where she only ever heard her husband's voice. Yet, he provided everything that could delight a young princess, and she grew to love him.
"There is a necessity that keeps me hidden," he explained, "only trust me."
One day, her jealous sisters came and advised she see his face while he slept, and Psyche submitted to their ill advice. Uncovered under the lamp's light, she found the most beautiful, most irresistible of all immortals, and Cupid opened his eyes. With sudden grief, Cupid knew Pysche's doubt and felt a bee had stung his heart, so he flew away, leaving her alone.
Which is the best objective summary of "Cupid and Psyche"?
A.
When Psyche's destiny to marry a monster is revealed to her, she accepts her doomed fate and climbs the mountaintop. Surprisingly, she is carried to a beautiful place where she is well taken care of but only hears her husband, who is later revealed not as a monster but Cupid himself. She is one lucky girl.
B.
Out of rage, Venus enlists Cupid's help to avenge her from a mortal maid, who is known for her looks so beautiful she is mistaken as the goddess herself. The plan backfires, and Cupid secretly falls in love. Readers can only hope that Venus never finds out that Cupid is the one who married her.
C.
Psyche's sisters are awful, as they are obviously jealous of Psyche's situation of living a wonderful life with a loving husband. Full of green-eyed envy, the sisters convince Psyche to sneak into her husband's room at night to see his face, even if it means that she might lose it all, including his trust.
D.
When Cupid pierces himself with his arrow, he falls in love with Psyche but cannot reveal his identity, as Venus has cast a spell on Psyche so that she can only marry a monster. Psyche, however, does not heed Cupid's wish to trust him and looks on his beautiful face, which hurts him in the end.
1 answer