1. Summary
• Pyramus and Thisbe fell in love, yet their
parents would not let them talk to one
another or get married. The two lovers found
a way to communicate; the spoke through a
small crack(chink) in the wall that separated
their homes. One day, the two could not stand
their separation, so they decided to elope.
They were to meet at the Tomb of Ninus;
Thisbe arrived first, but she was scared away
because a lioness was there. When she ran
away, she accidentally dropped her cloak.

2. Summary
• The lioness had just made a kill, and with its
bloody mouth picked up Thisbe’s cloak.
Pyramus saw the lioness with Thisbe’s cloak
and thought that his love was dead. He
stabbed himself with his sword, and his blood
splashed on the white berries of the mulberry
tree, turning them red. When Thisbe
returned, she saw Pyramus’ dead body and
stabbed herself. The gods took pity of them
and placed their ashes together in an urn, so
they would be together forever.

3. Pyramus and Thisbe
Category of the Myth
•To reveal our deepest hopes
and fears as a society—everyone
wants to find true love
•To explain the unexplainable—
why mulberries turn from white
to red

4. Study guide
1. Who kept Pyramus and Thisbe apart?
A: Their parents
2. What natural phenomenon does this
story explain?
A: Why the mulberry changes from white
to red.
3. How did Pyramus and Thisbe
communicate?
A: Through a crack (chink) in the wall.

5. 3. How does Pyramus die?
A:He kills himself because he thinks Thisbe is dead.
He draws his sword and stabs himself, spraying
blood everywhere.
4. Where did Pyramus and Thisbe live?
A: In Babylon.
5. At the beginning of the story, what did Pyramus
and Thisbe want to do?
A: Marry
6. Where did Pryamus and Thisbe plan to meet?
A: At the tomb of Ninus.

6. 7. What creature scared Thisbe away?
A: A lioness
8. Why does Pyramus think Thisbe is dead?
A: He finds her bloody cloak.
9. What does Thisbe do when she discovers
Pyramus?
A: She kills herself.
10. How do the gods take pity on the two
lovers?
A: They place their ashes together in one urn, so
that the lovers will always be together.

7. 7. What creature scared Thisbe away?
A: A lioness
8. Why does Pyramus think Thisbe is dead?
A: He finds her bloody cloak.
9. What does Thisbe do when she discovers
Pyramus?
A: She kills herself.
10. How do the gods take pity on the two
lovers?
A: They place their ashes together in one urn, so
that the lovers will always be together.