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Background of the Author
The Tale of The Widow of Ephesus by
Gaius Petronius Arbiter
Background of the Author
✣ Occupation: Novelist
✣ Born: 27 AD, Marseille, France
✣ Died: 66 AD, Sito Archeologico di
Cuma, Italy
✣ Novel by Petronius : Petronii Arbitri
Satyricon
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Known as: “Gaius Petronius Arbiter” “Petronius ”
Original Name: Titus Petronius Niger
The Widow of Ephesus by Petronius: Summary of
an Ancient Folktale Set in a Graveyard.
Once upon a time there was a faithful woman in Ephesus.
Her fidelity was well-known all over the area. But one day
her husband died and she went to the grave with the dead
body of her husband. She insisted on taking care of the
body herself until it was buried.
Her maid was also there with her. Nobody could persuade
the lady to go home. She did not eat a grain for five days.
Everybody said that she was the true example of conjugal
fidelity and love
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The Widow of Ephesus by Petronius: Summary of
an Ancient Folktale Set in a Graveyard.
In the meantime, a lot of thieves were hanged near that
grave and a soldier was assigned to watch the dead bodies
so that nobody could take them away for burial. When he
saw the light and heard the groan, he went down into the
underground grave. He was frightened, first to see the
beautiful woman. When he was sure that she was a widow,
he brought some food and wine. Then he requested her not
to worry about the unavoidable thing.
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The Widow of Ephesus by Petronius: Summary of
an Ancient Folktale Set in a Graveyard.
The next morning, the soldier was horrified and was ready
to kill himself with his sword instead of being punished.
But the lady’s heart was more sympathetic than pure. She
was not ready to lose this lover because she had already
lost her husband. So she ordered him to hang the dead
body of her husband on the empty cross. And the next
morning all the people were surprised to see the dead man
on the cross.
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The Widow of Ephesus by Petronius: Summary of
an Ancient Folktale Set in a Graveyard.
But she became more angry and began to beat her breast
and root out her hair. But the maid had the food and tried
to persuade her mistress pointing to the dead body, which
seemed to be telling her to remain alive. At last she gave in
and had food. When her stomach was full, she was
tempted to marry him. Soon she was ready, and the soldier
enjoyed his life in the tomb. But taking advantage of his
absence at night, one of the hanged bodies was taken and
buried by the parents.
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Introducing of Characters
The Tale of The Widow of Ephesus
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Introducing of Characters
Introducing of Characters

✣ The first character is Eumolpus, a poet and

a storyteller with a deep scorn for all ✣ The maid
women. – gives food to the widow
✣ The second character is the widow of ✣ The soldier
Ephesus, the main character in the story
– offers food to the widow
- between these two characters, the widow
of Ephesus is far more admirable because she - fell inlove with the widow
portrays every quality Eumolpus assures no - married the widow
woman possesses. 9 10

Setting
✣ Greece, Ephesus
2. ✣ Graveyard
Setting
The Tale of The Widow of Ephesus

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Plot - Exposition
✣ Setting + Characterization

3.
Plot
The Tale of The Widow of Ephesus

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Plot - Climax
Plot - Conflict
✣ It happens that one of the thieves body was
✣ Death of her husband taken away from the cross. The soldier was to
✣ The widow refuse to have be punished for the theft with the death
some food penalty, as it was his duty to protect the dead
✣ It happens that one of the bodies from stealing.
thieves body was taken
away from the cross.

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Plot - Resolution
✣ The Widow offers her husband’s
dead body to be put in place on 4.
the thief’s dead body to protect Theme
her illegal lover, which at last The Tale of The Widow of Ephesus

results in the substitution of the

dead body at the cross of her
husband’s dead body.
✣ → Acceptance of the soldier
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Theme
✣ The entire theme of the
unfaithfulness of the women is
very much focused by the
Widow’s love and her hasty
marriage with the soldier which
at last results in the substitution
of the dead body at the cross of
her husband’s dead body.

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