Set 1: The self-absorbed flower.

Narcissism, a state of mind in which one has an inflated sense of self-importance with an
excessive self-involvement that causes a person to ignore the needs of others. This this term is derived
from the character and myth of Narcissus. The story recalls a handsome young man with many suitors
entranced by himself upon seeing his own reflection on the surface of a lake, on the edge of the lake
staring at his own reflection is where he remains for the rest of his life. The genus Narcissus is a spring
flower found near bodies of water where some of its species are known for the intoxicating aroma it
emits, while it is unclear whether the myth or the flower came first, one cannot deny the parallels of the
story and the flower, because similarly to the man it shares its name, upon reaching maturity, it droops
down facing it’s stamen towards the nearest body of water as if it were staring at itself for the rest of its
life. Most can agree that Narcissism is not a desirable trait in a person, yet you would not blame
someone when they proclaim that all throughout history many of its most prominent figures are
Narcissists, from merciless unyielding rulers and dictators to self-destructive celebrities. One can make
the case that history has been glorifying Narcissism, and most likely now more than ever with every
person on social media with a small group of followers interested in what they are doing, and how the
look in a certain moment, now is a time where they care not of their virtues and character but rather
how they look and the façade they put on in each passing moment. In this age of the micro-celebrity
people are numb not just to the people around them but to their own true feelings as well which makes
perfect sense as “Narcissus” is derived from the Greek word narke, which would mean numbness. The
feeling of numbness is one of the side effects of a dopamine release usually after a person receives a
certain validation and attention from the micro-fame they have procured. Now more than ever we see
people from old people to children become like the young man in the myth, as they all alienate
themselves from their communities and their own true feelings.

Set 2:

.1 Thisbe, for the simple fact that she is not a fool to jump to conclusions, and she remained loving and
loyal to the fool she loved.

.2 A. The hostile parents can be seen as the antagonists as they are the ones hindering the love of the
couple

B. Fate is the overarching antagonistic force within this narrative, as even their plans to meet did not
foresee their deaths ultimately leading them to never be together.

C. The call to Adventure in the story is their falling in love despite the current circumstances.

D. The youthful passion allows them to be the foolish, loyal, and loving couple that they are.
Set 3:

.1 Proud. Fierce. Dominating. Feared. Respected.

.2 It can be considered a fable, since this is a piece of literature passed down to many generations
through writing, and there is a moral to be learned from it.

.3 One of the ironic things in this story is the characters themselves. The old woman who owned the
animals is described as poor, humble, and leads a simple life. While the animal she owned are given
descriptions only royalty would know.

.4 They were given traits and mannerisms that would be commonly found within the likes of man.

Set 4:

.1 In this tale, the essence of love is shown to be a couple building a strong family together with only
speaking of the truth and with not just one contributing the bulk of the foundation but both sides aiding
using their strengths.

.2 Arveragus, his sense of nobility allowed him to suffer the shame than having his wife break her
promise.

.3 Nobility is a virtue that must be held in the highest regard, but one must never make a promise that
cannot be kept.

Set 5:

.1 To hold your tongue. “My son, keep well thy tongue, and keep thy friend; A wicked tongue is worse
than is a fiend.”

.2 Proverbs 10:11 – “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life…”

Proverbs 10:19 – “Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”

Proverbs 10:21 – “The lips of the righteous nourish many…”