Study Guide

Orpheus

Profile

Orpheus was the first ever rock star. He may not have an electric guitar, but you would not believe the things this guy can do on a lyre. Orpheus plays so beautifully that he can charm the pants off of anybody—mortals, gods, animals, trees, rocks—you name it. And not only is Orpheus a fabulous musician, but he's a hero to boot. He went with Jason and the Argonauts on the Quest for the Golden Fleece, where he drowned out the Sirens with his amazing music. He also makes it on the very short list of heroes who managed to go down to the Underworld and make it out again (when he tried to rescue his wife, Eurydice). On top of all that, Orpheus is said to be the founder of the Orphic religious cult, which promised its followers a blessed afterlife. Rock star, hero, prophet—pretty much, Orpheus was the man.

Basic Information

Name	Orpheus
Nickname	King of Charm, Music Man
Sex	Male

Work & Education

Occupation	Musician General Duties: Charming everyone with my music, being awesome
Education	Mt. Parnassus Musical Conservatory I spent a semester abroad at Julliard

Beliefs

Political views

Free love

Family & Friends (& Enemies)

Parents	Mom: Calliope Dad: Oeagrus (or maybe Apollo—that seems pretty fitting)
Children	None. My one true love died much too early for children.
Friends	Eurydice Rocks Trees All my adoring fans
Enemies	Dionysus (we're kind of frienemies, really) The Maenads Snakes

Relationships

Relationship status

Married to Eurydice (death can't come between us)

Favorites

Quotations	"Music is love in search of a word." – Sidney Lanier "Hell is full of musical amateurs." – George Bernard Shaw "I don't care much about music. What I like is sounds." – Dizzy Gillespie "I don't know anything about music. In my line I don't have to." – Elvis Presley "After silence, that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music." – Aldous Huxley
Books	"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. (Sonnet 43)" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson "Bright Star, would I were stedfast as thou art" by John Keats Orpheus Descending by Tennessee Williams "Death, be not proud (Holy Sonnet 10)" by John Donne Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare "Love Sonnet 17" by Pablo Neruda "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman "The Return of the Chorb" by Vladimir Nabokov
Music	It's not about individual songs for me. It's about the musician and who has the power to move me (and maybe animals and rocks) with their music. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart The Beatles Bob Marley Johannes Brahms Radiohead Bon Iver John Coltrane Adele
Movies	Almost Famous Don't Look Back Amadeus Black Orpheus This Is Spinal Tap Mr. Holland's Opus Walk the Line Orpheus The Princess Bride That Thing You Do! Help!

Activities & Interests

Likes	Singer/Songwriters Guitar Hero Garage Band Home Recording Equipment Andean Pan Flute Bands Summer Concert Season Spelunking
Interests	Musicology Lyric Poetry Cults Underworld Exploration
Groups	Music Lovers Real Life Rock Stars Dead Before Our Time Orpheus Fan Club (Founder)

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