Passage 1
from Pyramus and Thisbe
a Roman myth
Pyramus was the handsomest youth, and Thisbe the fairest maiden, in all Babylonia, where Semiramis reigned. Their parents occupied adjoining
ouses; and neighborhood brought the young people together, and acquaintance ripened into love. They would gladly have married, but their parents
orbade. One thing, however, they could not forbid that love should glow with equal ardor in the bosoms of both. They conversed
by signs and
glances
and the fire burned more intensely for being covered up. In the wall that parted the two houses there was a crack, caused by some fault
in the
tructure. No one had remarked it before, but the lovers discovered it. What will love not discover? It afforded a passage to the voice; and tender
messages used to pass backward and forward through the gap. As they stood, Pyramus on this side, Thisbe on that, their breaths would mingle.
Cruel wall," they said, "why do you keep two lovers apart? But we will not be ungrateful. We owe you, we confess, the privilege of transmitting loving
words to willing ears." Such words they uttered on different sides of the wall; and when night came and they must say farewell, they pressed their lips
pon the wall, she on her side, he on his, as they could come no nearer.
Com Rulfinch's Mutholome The Ane of Fahle
Select the correct answer.
The Roman myth about Pyramus and Thisbe influenced Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Which statement best explains how Shakespeare
transforms the original text?
OA. Shakespeare describes the forbidden love between the characters.
OB. Shakespeare includes explanation for the families' feud.
OC. Shakespeare includes more explicit dialogue between the characters.
O D. Shakespeare describes the characters' physical appearance.