Metamorphoses · Chapter
Story of Erisichthon explained
Erisichthon, a blasphemous mortal, defies the gods by cutting down a sacred oak in Ceres' grove, despite warnings and supernatural signs.
What happens
Erisichthon, a blasphemous mortal, defies the gods by cutting down a sacred oak in Ceres' grove, despite warnings and supernatural signs. He kills a dissenting slave and continues his sacrilege, prompting the dryads to plead for vengeance. Ceres, unable to directly inflict famine due to Fate's decree, dispatches a nymph to summon Famine to torment Erisichthon with insatiable hunger.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of Telethusa’s de…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Divine Power and Human Folly
Erisichthon's arrogant defiance of Ceres and his destruction of her sacred grove exemplify human folly in challenging divine authority, leading to inevitable punishment.
- Violence and Revenge
Erisichthon's violent act of cutting down the oak and beheading his slave provokes Ceres' vengeful plan to inflict famine upon him.
Characters to notice
- Ceres
The goddess whose sacred grove is profaned by Erisichthon; she responds to the dryads' plea by devising a punishment of famine.
- Erisichthon
The impious son of Triope who defies Ceres, cuts down her sacred oak, and kills a slave who tries to stop him.
Key passages
“An ancient oak in the dark centre stood, The covert's glory, and itself a wood: Garlands embraced its shaft, and from the boughs Hung tablets, monuments of prosp'rous vows.”
At the heart of the grove stood a massive, ancient oak, adorned with garlands and hung with tablets as offerings for answered prayers.
Describes the sacred oak that Erisichthon destroys.
“But when his impious hand a wound bestow'd, Blood from the mangled bark in currents flow'd.”
When Erisichthon struck the tree, blood gushed from the wound in the bark.
Highlights the supernatural nature of the oak and the gravity of Erisichthon's sacrilege.
“A dryad I, by Ceres' love preferr'd, Within the circle of this clasping rind Coeval grew, and now in ruin join'd: But instant vengeance shall thy sin pursue, And death is cheer'd with this prophetic view.”
A dryad, who had lived within the oak as long as the tree itself, prophesied that Erisichthon's crime would be swiftly avenged.
The dryad's warning foreshadows the punishment to come.
