The Aeneid Flashcards
Purpose of The Aeneid
The most obvious purpose of The Aeneid is to glorify the history of Rome and its leader Augustus but Virgil also laid out his own purposes making a case for peace by highlighting the dangers and costs of war and demonstrating the traits of an ideal roman. Aeneas’ fate is inextricably linked to the destiny of Rome. By placing this legendary hero into a historical framework, Virgil uses his heroic qualities to explain the historical rise of Rome up to his time and to predict the continued greatness of the Roman Empire into the future.
Does Virgil present Aeneas as a hero?
We can interpret Virgil’s presentation of Aeneas in a variety of ways, as he can be seen as a hero through his excellent leadership skills and the way in which he adheres to his destiny, portraying an excellent example for Virgil’s contemporary Roman audience as Aeneas is shown to be an exemplary Roman citizen, sacrificing his own wishes for the good of his people. Virgil’s Aeneid has been interpreted to be in some ways praising the emperor Augustus’ reign, as there are elements of parallelism within the narrative. On the other hand, it has also been suggested that the Aeneid does not in fact show a positive view - Aeneas does some things which are not very admirable and are done without adhering to reason, which may call into question his status as a hero, and also our interpretation of the portrayal of Augustus. If Aeneas stands as a type of parallel to Augustus, then how are we to reconcile Aeneas’ negative attributes with Virgil’s apparent goal to praise Augustus?
Character of Aeneas
He is more of a symbol of the ideal Roman, and thus an educative tool for the audience, rather than a character of real emotional depth. He embodies many Augustan values, including leadership and stoicism
What is Virgil trying to do in The Aeneid?
So much of the text is Virgil trying to be educative, less of him telling how Romans already are - Virgil is trying to say you need to think more about this to not have as many civil wars
The overarching idea that Virgil had written a story that parallels Roman history at the time it was written as well as messages both in support of and against the rule of Augustus. The Aeneid was written during a period of political unrest in Rome. The Roman republic had effectively been abolished, and Augustus had taken over as the leader of the new Roman empire. The Aeneid was written to praise Augustus by drawing parallels between him and the protagonist, Aeneas.
What is Furor?
What is Pietas?
Furor→ means acting out of passionate emotion without hesitation. In The Aeneid, furor is found when emotions or other violent forces are allowed to run uncontrolled.
Pietas → the idea of one being selfless and devoted to your family, country and to the gods.
Augustus’ legitimacy for power argument…
Aeneas is a proto-augustan figure → descends directly from a goddess, and Augustus claims lineage to the gods through Julius Caesar, who claimed to be related to Aeneas’ son, Ascanius, who was the founder of Rome. Very shady but convincing argument for Augustus’ legitimacy for power/leadership (based on the idea that Augustus was ruling in the tradition of the republic under divine guidance.)
Powerful introduction or conclusion statements…
A man at war goes to found a city by destiny
Glorifies the roman people and roman virtue… Also works in Augustus, his lineage and his agenda into it.
Aeneas’ fate is tied to the destiny of Rome and he is presented as a paragon of Roman virtue but also as having all too human weaknesses.
Aeneas as a leader
He was mostly a good leader but the times where he isn’t are still instructive for the audience indicating how not to behave
The ancient Roman people would have seen Aeneas’ style of leadership as one to follow, although not initially.
Rallying his men
Hint -
- First trouble known
- sick, hope
“This is not the first trouble we have known…This too will pass.”
“but he was sick with all his cares. He showed them the face of hope.”
- Beginning of Book 1
Fighting (overcome with furor)
Hints -
- Heart, comrades
- Frenzy, noble
“My hear was burning to gather comrades for battle.”
“Frenzy and anger drove me on…it seemed like such a noble thing to die in arms”
- Book 2
Mercury’s visit
Hint
- hair, voice
“His hairs stood on end with horror and the voice stick in his throat”
- Book 4
- very sudden realisation that he has forgotten his mission
Dido’s reply
Hint
- anguish
“Aeneas …struggled to fight down the anguish in his heart.”
- Book 4
Pageant of heroes
Hint
- golden years
- extend
- war
- pardon
“bring back the golden years”
“extend Rome’s empire…to a land beyond the star”
“War down the proud”
“pardon the defeated”
Dido leadership
At the beginning Dido is a role model leader however towards the end she is definitely not a role model for leadership
Dido description (initial)
Hint
- Diana, joyfully
- equal terms
“Dido was like Diana. Like Diana she bore herself joyfully among her people…”
“Would you care to join us in this realm on equal terms?”
- Book 1 description
