The Golden Ass: Study Notes

Lucius Apuleius: The Golden Ass

Page 1: Author and Title

• Lucius Apuleius
• The Golden Ass

Page 2: Copyright Information

• Translated by A. S. Kline, 2013. All Rights Reserved.
• This work may be freely reproduced, stored, and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose.

Page 3: Table of Contents

• Book I:
  • Apuleius’ address to the reader
  • Aristomenes begins his tale
  • Socrates’ misfortune
  • Aristomenes’ Nightmare
  • Socrates’ death
  • Milo’s House
• Book II:
  • Aunt Byrrhena
  • At Byrrhena’s House
  • The charms of Photis
  • Diophanes the Chaldaean
  • A night with Photis
  • The supper party
  • Thelyphron’s tale: guarding the body
  • Thelyphron’s tale: conjuring the dead
  • Thelyphron’s tale: what the corpse said
  • An encounter with thieves
• Book III:
  • On trial
  • Lucius states his defence
  • Justice is served
  • Photis confesses
  • Spying on the mistress
  • Aristomenes transformed
• Book IV:
  • Encounter with the market-gardener
  • Feigned exhaustion
  • The robber’s cave
  • Thieving in Thebes – Lamachus and Alcimus
  • Thieving in Plataea – the bear’s skin
  • Thrasyleon’s fate
  • The captive
• Book V:
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – mad desire
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – the murder
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – the vision in sleep
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – vengeance
• Book VI:
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: fatal beauty
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the oracle
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the palace
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the mysterious husband
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the wicked sisters
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: Cupid’s warning
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the sisters’ scheme
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: revelation
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the jar of sleep
  • The tale of Cupid and Psyche: the marriage
• Book VII:
  • Back at the cave
  • The new recruit
  • Escape from the robbers
  • In clover, and the opposite
• Book VIII:
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – mad desire
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – the murder
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – the vision in sleep
  • The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite – vengeance
• Book IX:
  • The rabid dog
  • The lover in the jar
  • Sold again
  • At the mill
  • The miller’s wife
  • Exposure
  • Revenge
  • Signs and portents
  • The three brothers
  • Encounter with a soldier
• Book X:
  • The tale of the wicked stepmother – poisoning
  • The tale of the wicked stepmother – truth
  • The tale of the wicked stepmother – resurrection
  • Gluttony
• Book XI:
  • The vision of Isis
  • The Goddess commands
  • The festival begins
  • The ass transformed
  • Lucius regained
  • Preparations for initiation
  • The initiate of Isis
  • And of Osiris

Book I: Introduction

• Apuleius’ address to the reader (Book I:1):
  • The author expresses a desire to weave together various tales, akin to the Milesian style.
  • Highlights the transformation of human forms and fortunes, asking readers for indulgence in his story.
  • Mentions his lineage and literary background, originating from Hymettus near Athens.
• Aristomenes begins his tale (Book I:2-5):
  • Setting: Thessaly, described in the context of family roots.
  • Aristomenes recounts his travels and draws attention to overhearing two travelers sharing tales.
• Socrates’ misfortune (Book I:6-10):
  • Aristomenes encounters Socrates in a state of despair, revealing the latter's tragic circumstances.
  • Details Socrates' robbery by bandits while carrying wealth back from Macedonia.
  • Socrates laments the poor choices leading to his downfall, particularly concerning a relationship with Meroe, an innkeeper.
• Aristomenes’ Nightmare (Book I:11-17):
  • Aristomenes describes a vivid nightmare where he witnesses a gruesome murder.
  • He recalls being terrorized by Meroe’s jealous rage toward Socrates.
  • Fears of magical retribution highlight the theme of moral danger connected to women's powers.

Book II: Various Characters and Tales

• Aunt Byrrhena (Book II:1-3):
  • Introduction of Aunt Byrrhena, cousin to Lucius and her warning about the dangers posed by Pamphile.
• At Byrrhena’s House (Book II:4-5):
  • Description of the richness and beauty of Byrrhena's house.
  • Setup for the introduction of magic hands.
• The charms of Photis (Book II:6-10):
  • Photis’ role as a maid, characterized as beautiful and attractive.
  • Lucius becomes enamoured with her charms, highlighting the theme of forbidden love.
• Diophanes the Chaldaean (Book II:11-14):
  • Introduction to Diophanes, a magician who presents a foreboding air regarding Pamphile and her powers.
• A night with Photis (Book II:15-18):
  • Lucius and Photis spend the night together, laden with romantic tension and excitement.
• The supper party (Book II:19-20):
  • Social gathering that serves to advance narrative style and character dynamics, including Thelyphron’s tale about corpse guarding.
• Thelyphron’s tale (Book II:21-30):
  • Thelyphron tells of chaotic events surrounding corpse vigilance and witchcraft, underpinning Apuleius’s themes of transformation and supernatural influence.
• An encounter with thieves (Book II:31-32):
  • Continuation of robbery themes, revealing personal peril against external forces.

Book III: Legal Themes and Personal Tragedies

• On trial (Book III:1-3):

  • Lucius is tried for murder after killing robbers during a thwarted theft.

• Lucius states his defence (Book III:4-8):

  • Lucius narrates his actions in self-defense, attempting to appeal to the jury’s sense of justice.

Book III: Consequences and Revelations

• Justice is served (Book III:9-11):
  • Lucius’s trial concludes with reflection on the ironic fate resolved through laughter, rather than justice.
• Photis confesses (Book III:12-18):
  • Photis reveals her part in Lucius’s troubles, deepening the narrative’s threads of guilt and misfortune.
• Spying on the mistress (Book III:19-23):
  • Lucius’s voyeurism into the supernatural dealings of women indicates moral peril associated with desire.

Book IV: Challenges and Confrontation

• Encounter with the market-gardener (Book IV:1-3):
  • More themes of thievery and societal vulnerability.
• Feigned exhaustion (Book IV:4-5):
  • Lucius plots to simplify life with ruse of exhaustion.
• The robber’s cave (Book IV:6-9):
  • Description of bandit life and theft practices.

Book V: Themes of Desire and Retribution

• The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite (Book V:1-18):
  • Introduction to love and betrayal, underscoring how desire leads to murder and vengeance.

Book VI: Intersections of Human and Divine

• The tale of Cupid and Psyche (Book VI:1-6):
  • Story arc intertwining mortality and divinity, emphasizing Psyche's trials through love and jealousy.

Book VII: Conclusion of Trials

• Back at the cave (Book VII:1-4):
  • Discusses interactions among robbers transforming betrayal into growth and sacrifice.
• The new recruit (Book VII:5-8):
  • Introduction of a character who reshapes the narrative outcomes, leading to robber nemesis.

Book VIII: Actions and Consequences

• The tale of Thrasyllus and Charite (Book VIII:1-10):
  • Continuation of the previously established narrative, with echoes of vengeance.