Metamorphoses
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Book 1: Prologue Book 1: The Creation Book 1: The Four Ages Book 1: The Giants Book 1: Lycaön Book 1: The Flood Book 1: Deucalion and Pyrrha Book 1: Python Book 1: Daphne Book 1: Io (1) Book 1: Interlude: Pan and Syrinx Book 1: Io (2) Book 1: Phaëthon (1) Book 2: Phaëthon (2) Book 2: Callisto Book 2: The Raven and the Crow Book 2: Ocyrhoë Book 2: Battus Book 2: Aglauros Book 2: Europa Book 3: Cadmus Book 3: Actaeon Book 3: Semele Book 3: Teiresias Book 3: Narcissus and Echo Book 3: Pentheus and Bacchus (1) Book 3: Acoetes and the Lydian Sailors Book 3: Pentheus and Bacchus (2) Book 4: The Daughters of Minyas (1) Book 4: Pyramus and Thisbe Book 4: Mars and Venus Book 4: Leucothoë and Clytië Book 4: Salmacis and Hermaphroditus Book 4: The Daughters of Minyas (2) Book 4: Ino and Athamas Book 4: Cadmus and Harmonia Book 4: Perseus (1) Book 5: Perseus (2) Book 5: Minerva and the Muses 5.3 Book 5: Calliope’s Song: Arethusa Book 5: Calliope’s Song: Triptolemus and Lyncus Book 5: The Daughters of Pierus Book 6: Arachne Book 6: Niobe Book 6: The Lycian Peasants Book 6: Marsyas Book 6: Pelops Book 6: Tereus, Procne and Philomela Book 6: Boreas and Orithyia Book 7: Medea and Jason Book 7: The Rejuvenation of Aeson Book 7: The Punishment of Pelias Book 7: Medea’s Flight Book 7: Theseus and Aegeus Book 7: Minos and Aeacus Book 7: The Plague at Aegina Book 7: The Birth of the Myrmidons Book 7: Cephalus and Procris Book 8: Scylla and Minos Book 8: The Minotaur and Ariadne Book 8: Daedaulus and Icarus Book 8: Daedalus and Perdix Book 8: Meleager and the Calydonian Boar Book 8: Achelous, the Naiads and Perimele Book 8: Philemon and Baucis Book 8: Erysichthon Book 9: Achelous and Hercules Book 9: Hercules and Nessus Book 9: The Death of Hercules Book 9: Alcmena and Galanthis Book 9: Dryope Book 9: Iolaus and Callirhoe’s Sons Book 9: Miletus Book 9: Byblis Book 9: Iphis Book 10: Orpheus and Eurydice Book 10: Cyparissus Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Introduction Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Ganymede Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Hyacinthus Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: The Cerastae and Propoetides Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Pygmalion Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Myrrha Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Venus and Adonis (1) Book 10: Venus’ Story: Atalanta and Hippomenes Book 10: Orpheus’ Song: Venus and Adonis (2) Book 11: The Death of Orpheus Book 11: The Punishment of the Maenads Book 11: Midas Book 11: Laomedon’s Treachery Book 11: Peleus and Thetis Book 11: Peleus at the Court of Ceyx (1) Book 11: Ceyx’s Story: Daedalion Book 11: Peleus at the Court of Ceyx (2) Book 11: Ceyx and Alcyone Book 11: Aesacus Book 12: The Greeks at Aulis Book 12: Rumour Book 12: Cycnus Book 12: Achilles’ Victory Celebration Book 12: Caenis Book 12: The Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs Book 12: Periclymenus Book 12: The Death of Achilles Book 13: The Judgement of Arms Book 13: Ajax’s Suicide Book 13: The Fall of Troy Book 13: The Sufferings of Hecuba Book 13: Memnon Book 13: The Wanderings of Aeneas (1) Book 13: The Daughters of Anius Book 13: The Daughters of Orion Book 13: The Wanderings of Aeneas (2) Book 13: Acis, Galatea and Plyphemus Book 13: Glaucus and Scylla (1) Book 14: Glaucus and Scylla (2) Book 14: The Wanderings of Aeneas (3) Book 14: The Sibyl of Cumae Book 14: Achaemenides’ Story: Ulysses’ Men in Polyphemus’ Cave Book 14: Macareus’ Story: Ulysses and Circe Book 14: Macareus’ Story: Picus, Canens and Circe Book 14: The Wanderings of Aeneas (4) Book 14: The Mutinous Companions of Diomedes Book 14: The Apulian Shepherd Book 14: The Ships of Aeneas Book 14: Ardea Book 14: The Apotheosis of Aeneas Book 14: Aeneas’ Descendants Book 14: Pomona and Vertumnus Book 14: Iphis and Anaxarete Book 14: Romulus Book 14: The Apotheosis of Romulus Book 15: Myscelus Book 15: Pythagoras Book 15: Egeria and Hippolytus Book 15: Tages, Romulus’ Spear, Cipus Book 15: Aesculapius Book 15: The Apotheosis of Julius Caesar Book 15: Epilogue
Themes
All Themes Metamorphosis Humanity vs. Nature Love and Destruction Gods and Humans Time, Fate, and Poetry
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Jupiter (Jove) Deucalion Daphne Juno Io Phaëthon Callisto Aglauros Cadmus Narcissus Echo Pentheus Bacchus Pyramus Thisbe Clytië Salmacis Ino Perseus Medusa Ceres Proserpina Arachne Niobe Tereus Procne Philomela Medea Jason Theseus Aeacus Minos Cephalus Procris Scylla Daedaulus Meleager Althaea Achelous Philemon Erysichthon Hercules Deianira Byblis Iphis Orpheus Pygmalion Myrrha Atalanta Midas Peleus Ceyx Alcyone Aesacus Caenis Hecuba Aeneas The Cyclops Glaucus Sybil Picus Pomona Pythagoras Julius Caesar
Symbols
All Symbols Speech, Words, and Writing
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
Sign In

Metamorphoses

by

Ovid

Metamorphoses: Book 11: The Punishment of the Maenads Summary & Analysis

Themes Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Metamorphoses, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Metamorphosis
Humanity vs. Nature
Love and Destruction
Gods and Humans
Time, Fate, and Poetry
Summary
Analysis
Bacchus is angry that the women killed Orpheus and decides to punish them. He twists tree roots around their bodies and embeds their toes in the soil. Bark encloses their bodies, and they transform into trees.
The angry women resemble Agave and the other women who participated in Bacchic rites and punished anyone who abstained, but Bacchus hypocritically punishes the women who kill Orpheus.
Themes
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request 



















The LitCharts.com logo.
















Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account


You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.






Continue with GoogleContinue with Google


or

























Already have an account? Sign in











Complete your free account to request a guide














Select one






Please enter as MM/DD/YYYY













Already have an account? Sign in


































The LitCharts.com logo.
















Get your answer with a free account


You’ll also get tons of other helpful features, including free quizzes and saving guides.






Continue with GoogleContinue with Google


or

























Already have an account? Sign in











Last step: complete your free account














Select one






Please enter as MM/DD/YYYY












Already have an account? Sign in


































The LitCharts.com logo.
















Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.


You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.






Continue with GoogleContinue with Google


or

























Already have an account? Sign in











Complete your free account to access notes and highlights














Select one






Please enter as MM/DD/YYYY













Already have an account? Sign in


































The LitCharts.com logo.
















Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account


Easily access your saved guides anytime.






Continue with GoogleContinue with Google


or

























Already have an account? Sign in











Complete your free account to save guides














Select one






Please enter as MM/DD/YYYY












Already have an account? Sign in