Abstract:
Not only does the publication of Ovidian adaptations online increase public awareness of Ovid, but it also offers new material for research and pedagogical purposes. Consequently, in this thesis, I explore both the historical tradition of Ovidian adaptations, specifically adaptations of Ovid's Orpheus tale, and the modern presentation of Ovidian Adaptations online. In the first half of the thesis, I trace the thematic connections between historical and modern adaptations of Ovid's Orpheus myth. My analysis reveals that despite changes in form and medium, from printed poems to Internet video games, Ovidian adaptations return to Ovid's distinct thematic emphasis on exploring human passions and expressing an individual's emotional tensions through art. In the second half of the thesis, I focus on the pedagogical implications of locating Ovidian adaptations on the public space of the Internet. I contend that online adaptations offer educators the possibility of showing students interpretive models and of making student knowledge and experience central to learning in the classroom.
