Williams - Aeneid Flashcards
what kind of hero is Aeneas?
proto-roman - model for future Romans
virgil and augustus believe in
‘mos meiorum’
when Aeneas lifts the sheild..
he metaphorically holds Rome’s destiny
Turnus is homeric - words used of turnus only:
“Violentia”
Aeneas proto-roman, word used of Aeneas only:
‘pius’
are turnus and aeneas completely different?
no- they can have qualities of the other (e.g. Aeneas human sacrifice bk.10)
view on war in homer vs. virgil
homer- inevitable
virgil- evil which man can overcome
why does virgil write about war?
he doesn’t want to but is a realist - it’s embedded in Rome’s history
purpose of virgil’s consistant optimism despite problems in aeneid
shows Romans to persevere
Who does Virgil sympathise with?
Victims of Rome - Dido, Turnus, Pallas etc
Homeric hero’s are
“great individualists
only through great suffering
can greatness be achieved
difference between Aeneas and Homeric heroes
he’s ‘frail and human’ they are godlike
Comparisons to animals
Aeneas only compared twice - Turnus compared multiple times
fate in homer
short term& often individual
