Journeying to the Underworld: Practice Questions

In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 10, how does Ovid describe the reaction of the inhabitants of the Underworld to Orpheus' song?

According to the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, what specifically does Persephone eat that prevents her from remaining in the world of the living forever?

In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, what specific action does Demeter take in her grief that causes a crisis for both mortals and the Olympian gods?

In Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 10, what is the specific condition imposed by Pluto (Hades) on Orpheus during his journey out of the Underworld?

In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, when Demeter first learns the truth about Persephone's abduction, which deity tells her that Pluto (Hades) is not an 'unfitting' husband for her daughter?

Analyze the portrayal of the Underworld and the challenges faced by those who journey there in Ovid's Metamorphoses (Book 10) and the Homeric Hymn to Demeter.

(a) In Ovid’s account of Orpheus and Eurydice, evaluate how Ovid uses the description of the monsters and inhabitants of the Underworld to emphasize the power of Orpheus’ music.
(b) Compare the role of Pluto (Hades) as a character in both texts. To what extent is he depicted as a strictly legalistic figure versus a sympathetic one?
(c) Explain the significance of the pomegranate seed in the Hymn to Demeter. How does this specific detail reflect ancient Greek beliefs about the permanence of the Underworld and the cycles of nature?