Pyramus and Thisbe-pg. 49, question 1

Lines 118-127
"Ancient epic poems often contained seemingly gratuitous/unnecessary descriptions of physical violence; how is Ovid's graphic depiction of Pyramus' suicide, on the other hand, quite essential to the story line?"

Ovid's description of Pyramus' suicide is quite essential to the story line. Focusing for a minute soley on the actual story line, I believe that his death had to be intricately described because their love was intricate. Everything they did, every chance they had to see each other was brought about with plans and sneaking around. It took slyness to be able to sneak out to speak between the walls, but even greater slyness to be able to leave the confines of the city and run away together. That type of thing takes detail, planning. Pyramus' death reminds me of their love in how it was so detailed, so intricately described. It was painful to read and I think that was Ovid's point; I think Ovid wanted the reader to feel their love, if that makes sense. What I mean is this: it was frustrating to read about how Pyramus and Thisbe couldn't really see each other. It was also frustrating to read about Pyramus' suicide because of the fact that Thisbe wasn't even dead! Ovid wanted us to feel the frustration that Pyramus felt when he found that bloody veil and assumed the worst. Their relationship at this point in the story is all based on instant reactions. For example, when he sees the veil of Thisbe and animal tracks, he doesn't stick around to find out if she's actually dead! Instead, he reacts by deciding that she is dead and that he can't live without her. Thus, he kills himself. This is frustrating because, yes, to love someone so much that you feel like your life wouldn't be worth living without them is a common thought amongst teenagers. But he should've taken the time to think it through.

Pyramus and Thisbe 2

Lines 105-127
In lines 105-127 of Pyramus and Thisbe, I have seen them sneak out of the city to meet each other at a designated place. Unfortunately, however, Pyramus comes across Thibe's veil and assumes she's dead. Therefore, he kills himself. Throughout these lines of poetry, there are some forms of figures of speech.
For example, around lines 108 and 109, Pyramus uses personification by saying, "My heart is guilty." This is personification because obviously his heart cannot literally be guilty. We only say things like this because for some reason, we all buy into the fact that our heart contains our emotions, rather than our brain. Heart sounds a little more poetic, I guess. Another FOS used is around lines 117 and 118 when Pyramus says to the lioness (who is not there), "Receive now a drink of my blood also!" This FOS is apostrophe. It is apostrophe because even though Pyramus is addressing the sword, the sword is an inanimate object. He may also be addressing something/someone else, but he does not make it clear as to whom he is addressing.
A third FOS used in this poem is around lines 120 and 121. Here, Ovid writes, "...blood spurts upward, not unlike that of a faulty lead pipe..." This figure of speech is litotes, because it is saying that it is not exactly like blood spurting from a pipe, yet it uis not exactly unlike it either.

Pyramus and Thisbe limerick

There once was a couple from the city,
one of whom was very pretty.
They snuck out at night,
thinking they'd be alright.
Their ending was anything but witty.