1. Discussion Questions for Hymn to Demeter • Who sanctions the abduction of Persephone? Why is this so poignant? • Who are the only two to witness Persephone’s abduction? • How does Demeter find out that Persephone has been abducted? • Demeter experiences a number of different emotions. How does she react to each one? How does she try to remedy the disappearance of her daughter? • This hymn captures some interaction between gods and mortals. Who is Metaneira? How does she react to/interact with Demeter? • How does Demeter’s absence from Olympus affect the mortal world? How does this in turn affect the gods? • How would you characterize Hades in this hymn? How would you describe Persephone’s relationship with him? • The strength of story-telling often lies in the details. Select a few passages that you think were particularly contributive to the emotional tone of the hymn.