Book 1: Storm and Banquet Flashcards
What does Virgil include in the prologue?
‘I sing of arms and the man’ - (like Homer) war and Aeneas, ‘fated to be an exile’ ‘sufferings in war’ - will lead to forming Rome
Juno’s anger - questions the justification of her punishing a pious man
What is Juno’s relationship with Carthage? Why does she hate the Trojans
- Favourite city, wants to give them rule over the earth but there is a prophecy that Troy’s desendants (Romans) will overthrow Carthage (Punic Wars)
- Hates Trojans for Paris choosing Venus (who promised Helen in marriage) over her in a beauty contest
Where are the Trojans at the start of Book 1? How are they feeling?
Leaving Sicily for Italy - in ‘high spirits’ as their journey is nearly over
What is Juno worried about?
Not being worshipped in the future - very human concern
What is the name of Aeolus’ island?
Aeolia
How is Aeolia described?
Has a cavern in which he keeps the ‘braling winds and howling storms, chined and bridled’ - ‘prison’ to control them
Sound: ‘loud protest’ ‘murmur’
Aeolus sooths their spirirts and tempers their ‘angry passions’ - control, can ‘hold them in check, or, when ordered’ let them free
Given this power by Jupiter
What does Juno want Aeolus to do? How does she try to persuade him? What is his response?
‘Made supplication’ - wants him to send a storm to destroy the Trojans
Promises Deiopea, the loveliest of her nymphs, for marriage
- Aeolus says it is his duty ot obey her as he owes his power and kingdom to her and Jupiter
Describe Aeolus sending out the storm
He hits the mountainside with his spear and the winds poured out ‘to blow a hurricane over the whole earth’
- whipped up waves and blotted out light, thunder and lightning
What is Aeneas’ response to the storm?
‘A sudden chill went through Aeneas and his limbs grew weak’ - frightened, human (makes achievements more impressive as he must struggle)
- Aeneas prays to the gods - says those that died in Troy were fortunate as they died with their friends and with glory (doesn’t want to be forgotten)
What does the storm do to the Trojan fleet?
- 3 carried onto the sandbanks of the Syrtes
- Orontes’ ship spun around 3 times and sucked down by a whirlpool
- Men swimming in ocean amongst their possessions
- 3 ships broke and sank
How does the storm stop?
Neptune recognised the ‘anger and cunning’ of Juno and told the winds to stop, Aeneas has overstepped his bounds
Calmed swell and dispersed clouds with the help of nymphs - Neptune ‘skimmed along with his chariot touching the crests of the waves’
What simile is used of Neptune when he calms the storm?
like a politician, praised for ‘his goodness and services to the state’, pacifying an angry mob through words - contrast with chaos and composure
How is the coast of Libya described? Why might this be?
- ‘Rock cliffs are everywhere’ - ‘great pinnable threatens the sky’
- ‘water lies still and safe’ (contrast with storm) - no need to use chains to moor the ships
- ‘shimmering trees, a dark wood with quivering shadows, looming over the water’
- cave for nymphs
- Contrast of safe abd forebording, ominous, mysterious - perhaps because of the Punic Wars (in 3rd and 2nd centuries BC - historical danger for Rome)
What do Aeneas’ men do when they land in Libya? What does Aeneas do?
- His men throw themselves of the ground and make fire and bread - practical needs
- Aeneas climbs a rock to look for the rest of his ships - concern for men
- Then Aeneas killed 7 stags for his men to eat
The men talk of the lost comrades, what does Aeneas say and how does he feel?
Aeneas tells them the gods will help them endure, they must summon their courage - reminds them of their fate: ‘the kingdom of Troy shall rise again’
However, Aeneas ‘was sick with all hsi cares’. ‘He showed them the face of hope and kept his misery deep in his heart’ - selfless, leader
