Echo and Narcissus

The New Windmill Book of Greek Myths, Geraldine McCaughrean (1992)

Before Reading

  1. Check the dictionary definitions of these two words: a) echo b) narcissus What are they?
  2. With a partner, find the correct order for the following bits of dialogue:
      1. "You are. Don’t tell me you’re not."
      2. "What? I didn’t do anything."
      3. "Not. Not, not, not."
      4. "You’ve done it again!"
      5. "I’m not!"
      6. "Yes, you did. You talked. You’re always talking."
      7. "Once and for all, be silent!"
        8.

While Reading

  1. Why was Hera angry with Echo?
  2. How did Hera punish Echo?
  3. a) How did Echo feel when she saw Narcissus?

    4. b) How did Narcissus feel about Echo?

  4. a) How did Echo’s unhappiness affect her health?

    5. b) What happened to her in the end?

  5. Which of these statements is not true?

      6. Echo wanted Narcissus to love her.

      Echo wanted Narcissus to suffer.

      Narcissus loved Echo.

      Echo loved Narcissus.

  6. What happened to Narcissus in the end?

Vocabulary

  1. Find three "-ing" words on Page 15 that show Echo was a noisy, talkative person.
  2. Find a word on Page 16 that means "crying/weeping".
  3. Find three words on Page 17 that mean "said". Write a clear definition for each word.
  4. An adverb is a word that tells us how somebody did something:

    5. e.g. quickly, loudly, carelessly. Find two adverbs on Page 15 that tell us how Hera and Echo spoke. Write a definition for each.

    Hera: __________ = _________________________

    Echo: __________ = _________________________

  5. Make up a sentence of your own using the expression "struck dumb" (Page 16).
  6. Make up a sentence of your own using the word "gaze" (Page 16).
  7. Write the word "fade" (Pages 17-18) in your Vocabulary Notebook. Use a visual trick to help you remember what it means. Write a definition and an example of how the word is used.
  8. Write the word "reflection" (Page 17) in your Vocabulary Notebook. Use a visual trick to help you remember what it means. Write a definition and an example of how the word is used.
  9. Write the word "ripples" (Page 17) in your Vocabulary Notebook. Use a visual trick to help you remember what it means. Write a definition and an example of how the word is used.

Similes

A simile is an expression that compares one thing to another. It always contains the word "like" or "as… as…". For example:

  1. His face was as wrinkled as a dry leaf
    2. .
  2. Hope fluttered on its way, blowing round the world like a single tiny tongue of flame
    3. .

Find similes on Page 15 that describe Hera, Diana and the wood nymphs:

  1. Hera: ________________________________________
  2. Diana: ________________________________________
  3. The wood nymphs: _______________________________

Now make up your own similes for the following gods/goddesses. (Try out different ideas and choose the best.)

Echo: ___________________________________________

Narcissus: _______________________________________

Hermes: _________________________________________

Pluto: ___________________________________________

Persephone: ______________________________________