Aeneid VI, Lines 695 - 702 Flashcards
1
Q
Give a brief description about what is happening in these lines.
A
- Aeneas says that it the repeated visions he has received of the dead Anchises which have prompted him to make the journey to the underworld. He then tells Anchises that he has arrived at the west coast of Italy, where his ships are moored .
- Aeneas then asks Anchises – at what is obviously quite an emotional moment of reunion - to let him take his father’s hand and embrace him.
- We are then told that Aeneas tries and fails to embrace his father’s ghost three times. The reason Aeneas fails to grasp his father is because his ghost lacks any physical substance.
2
Q
“tua me..tua”
A
- The repetition of “tua”(your) helps perhaps to suggest the repeated appearances of Anchises’ ghost to Aeneas or perhaps reflect the extent of Aeneas’ longing to be reunited with his father. The juxtaposition of “tua me” further reinforces the sens of closeness between the two.
3
Q
“genitor”
A
- Anchises has repeatedly used the vocative “nate”, and Aeneas repeatedly uses the vocative “genitor”(father) which helps to suggest the mutual love and respect between father and son.
4
Q
“da”
A
- The repetition of the imperative “da” suggests Aeneas’ longing to be allowed to embrace his father.
5
Q
“largo fletu simul ora rigabat.”
A
- At line 686 Anchises is described as welting his face with tears and Aeneas is described in similar terms here, such that we are again struck by the depth of the mutual respect and affection between father and son, further reinforcing the emotions and love created by this reunion.
6
Q
“ter conatus…ter frustra”
A
- The balancing of “ter conatus” and “ter frustra” at the beginning of consecutive lines underscores pathos of Aeneas’ repeated attempts and failures to embrace his father.
7
Q
“par levibus ventis volucrique simillima somno.”
A
- The gently repetitive l, s, v and m sounds reflect perfectly the sense of this image, as Anchises insubstantial ghost is compared to light breezes and sleep.
