The Aeneid - Important Quotations Flashcards
“the fierce…
“and unforgetting anger of Juno.” Book one, established her issues with Aeneas
“join me in…
cherishing the people of Rome, the rulers of the world.” Book one, elevates the Roman race, echoes RD Williams, “major intention of the Aeneid was to glorify Virgil’s own country”
“They were like…
bees… busy in the sunshine all through the flowery meadow.” book one, bee simile shows productivity and collaboration, Virgil elevates the Carthaginians, shows them as a worthy opponent from the Punic Wars.
“Why did your arm…
not strike me down… In death on the battlefield.” book one, shows Aeneas’ furor, wishing he had died in the glory of the battle
“Shared his meat…
with a Hero’s generosity.” book one, shows Aeneas’ piety and characterises him as a Homeric hero, links to Augustus, he understands the meaning of loyalty to his men, links to his social reforms, leadership is about reform and duty.
“because it was not by fate’s decree…
nor by a deserved death that she was dying.”
How is Dido described by Virgil?
“like a doe”, evokes great sympathy for her and portrays her as a victim/prey. The shepherd’ unknowingness for some readers makes Aeneas pitiable, others, criminal.
Nisus and Euryalus (Book 9)
“one love bound them…
“jaws…
side by side they’d rush to attack.” Virgil describes their love. Euryalus tears off Rhamne’s battle emblems and gold-studded belt, a fatal and arrogant mistake, caught by the glinting. dripping with blood”
Evokes one of Virgil’s themes: the great costs of human lives behind the founding of Rome. Rome was built on the bones of many young men like Nisus and Euryalus.
How does Aeneas show his pietas?
“known for…
my devotion.” contrasts the likes of Odysseus who introduces himself personally, “the world talks of my stratagems”. Aeneas fights not for his personal gain, but for his people.
‘You who rule the affairs…
of gods and men with your eternal law’ Venus acknowledges Jupiter’s power, as to the other gods. Latin word for ‘speak’, what he says goes etc.
“as each man has set up his loom…
so will he endure the labour and fortune of it… The fates will find their way.” the flexibility of fate can be seen here, the simile evokes how people do create their own fate, the character’s don’t work as puppets. Fate is also useful in Virgil’s appraisal of Augustus.
“like a pack of huntsmen…
with levelled spears pressing hard on a savage lion.” (Turnus vs the Trojans) likens Turnus to a prideful and aggressive being, stronger than both the Trojans and the lion he is compared to. The simile also highlights Turnus as a savage being, whilst the Trojans represent civility.
“prowled the walls…
like a wolf in the dead of night.” links to book 2, the Trojans are also described in this way, parallels.
“He glorified in the taking of it.
But fate was watching.” Describes how Turnus felt in taking Pallas’ life, his own decision, one that costs him dearly - amplifies the importance of the father/son relationship, Turnus cannot live the Roman society he so dishonours.
“I have brought this upon myself…
take pity on Daunus and give me back to my people… give them back my dead body.” Turnus humbly begs for Aeneas’ mercy, asking if he cannot forgive, to at least return him to his people he cares about dearly, or his grieving father.
“with tears…
“Three times…
streaming down his cheeks”
the phantom melted in his hands.”
Describes Aeneas and Anchises reuniting in the Underworld, highly emotive and amplifies the importance of the father son relationship.
“I shall tell you now…
of the glory that lies in store of the sons of Dardanus… bright spirits that will inherit our name.” His reuniting with Anchises solidifies the main themes and need for the poem, lineage and the continuation of the Roman nation.
“You know it owes the life of Turnus…
to the son and to the father” Evander’s reaction, blames Aeneas for his death in a way, and orders Turnus be killed for his grief. Again amplifies the importance of fathers and sons.
“Did you think…
I could run away and leave my father here?” (Aeneas escaping Troy) Aeneas’ incredulous tone and rhetorical questioning amplifies his care for his father and his much Roman-ness. He symbolically carries Anchises through the burning of Troy.
Ascanius’ name?
Iulus gives his name to the Julian clan, and therefore forms a linguistic (if not genetic) link between Augustus and Aeneas. This link forms the strong continuity between the Emperor and his divine origins.
Who is Evander?
A Greek (establishes the cultural from Arcadia, founded a city on Palatine Hill, an enemy of the Latins. A leader with a modest lifestyle like Augustus, had many stoic tutors.
Camilla?
The leader of the Volscians, Camilla is perhaps the only strong mortal female character in the epic.
