The Aeneid - These notes are from my Honors Triple literature class taught by Dr. Stephen PDF

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These notes are from my Honors Triple literature class taught by Dr. Stephen Smith....

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The Aeneid is a literary epic (vs. Homer’s epics that came from oral traditions). It is also an origin myth about Rome. This allowed people back then to feel like they had great, heroic beginnings. First 6 books- consist of the obstacles that Aeneus encounters on his way back to Rome. The 2nd half- the story of how he gets to Italy, the fort that he builds on the river Tiber and the war that breaks out between him and the Roman warrior for the king’s daughter’s hand. Wars and a man I sing- from the very first line, we know that the epic will be about wars, fate, exile, destiny…etc. Fate/destiny is a hugely important theme (because it keeps recurring!) The first few lines of the play already tell you what happens and how it ends. Virgil was not focused on suspense; more like how did he get to those points (not the what more like the how). In this epic, even the gods are subject to fate! This whole idea of fate that people had back then is still very relevant today but in the form of nature vs. nurture. …. or is everything preordained by God (back then and today). Juno is mad and does not want Aeneus to reach Carthage because it is her patron city and she heard a prophecy that they would harm it. It is her patron city. Propaganda value of the epic- Virgil was “prophesying” what already happened; it would obviously happen! This gives the events in the story a sense of inevitability (fate!). That’s why Juno can’t prevent what’s going to happen but she can delay it (by making their lives miserable). Because the gods are human-like, they have their own petty reasons for doing things. One of them could be because in the Iliad (preceding story), the king picked Venus instead of her in the beauty contest. Aeneus is the son of Venus (Aphrodite) and a human. Aeneus’ first spoken words express fear: he would rather have been back in the war, than in this storm. Warriors went to war not for national honour but for personal honour and to gain wealth...etc (plunder). Virgil was very deliberate in making those, the first words of Aeneus. (Pg. 987). Homer’s characters were very one-dimensional (Achilles- brave warrior), but Aeneus is a bit double-sided. “He assumes a look of hope and keeps his anguish in his heart”- he puts on a brave face for his soldiers but he’s really worried about whether they’ll make it.

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On page 987-988, Zeus start summarising/predicting what’s going to happen later on (like in the beginning). He predicts that Aeneus will only rule for 3 years (this actually goes beyond the epic). The prophecy is mostly about his son, Ascanius Ilius Caesar. He will found Alba (later on Rome). As the name suggests, this will lead to Julius Caesar. All of this should happen, because of FATE! Later, Venus appears (disguised). She “shrowds” Aeneus so he can’t be seen. Pg 993-994- Walls-citadel-building sites-boundaries-laws-judges-senate-harbourtheatre. This is a step by step description of a gradual civilization. Walls and citadels were symbols of safety/security. Building sites were for shelter. Boundaries to insure property. Laws were to ensure that there were no legal disputes, everyone respected boundaries…etc. If that didn’t work, judges had to make final decisions during legal disputes. Senate made the laws. After the city is more and more functioning, it can start trading (harbour). Theatre contributed to the growth of culture and art, but for it you needed leisure/time (you didn’t have time to do it if you were always fighting wars). Aeneus being able to see all this happening is obviously not a realistic description. It’s abstract; it is a blueprint for building a society (takes after what Dido achieved with Carthage). Dido- she is from Tyre, Phoenicia. While there, she married Sychaeus. Her brother, the king of Tyre, Pygmalion, was evil. He kills Sychaeus because he is jealous and thought he could be a threat at some point. Dido has a dream in which her late husband reveals that Pygmalion killed him, tells her to leave town and also tells her where to find the treasures of Pygmalion. She arrives in Carthage, with her followers and founds the city. Her story is parallel to Aeneus’ because she has already achieved it! (she is his female counterpart pretty much!). Pg. 995- Venus is dressed as a huntress; Dido is compared to Diana (also a huntress). Aeneus encounters some rather meaningful paintings and murals. The paintings describe a soldier being dragged through the sand by Achilles and his spear making zigzag marks as he is dragged. This is similar to Aeneus’ recount of the Trojan War, in which Achilles’ son kills another one of Pryme’s son (a son of Pryme was also being killed in the painting). It’s significant when an author deliberately repeats concepts like that! (pay attention!)

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Books 2-4: Said in Aeneus’ perspective. Just because a character says something doesn’t necessarily mean this is the author’s point of view as well. According to him, the Trojan war was lost because: the gods were against you; fate (told him by his mother), Sinon and greek treachery (with the Trojan horse); the repetition of words like cunning, treachery emphasizes this. Basically, he says that they lost because of lies and deceit not because the Greeks were better than them. However, contradicting what he said, he himself, uses deceit and cunning to safely leave, because he is in a case of desperation (with him and his soldiers wearing Greek armour). Somebody warns the Trojans about the horse; says not to trust it, “men can hide in its womb!!”. To prove his point, he throws a spear and it is thus noticed that the horse is hollow! Every society has its scapegoats. The Romans blamed the Greeks. The supernatural was strongly believed in back then! Virgil adds in his own elements to the Trojan war (that are not present in Homer). The horse lurches forward 4 times and you can hear the armours clinking inside. To put the final nail in the coffin of the Trojan’s demise (and stupidity!) , Cassandra TELLS THEM that there’s Greeks in the horse but because of Apollo’s curse on her, no one believes her. Hector was another son of Pryme. He is the counterpart of Achilles; another strong warrior. The three apparitions- 1) Hector’s ghost tells Aeneus to leave because the war is lost 2) He tells him to take his household gods; that’s significant because it pretty much means you are never coming back. “Keep them as comrades and make a city for them!”. This is pretty much when Aeneus discovers his fate. He does do what Hector tells him but it takes him a looong while! Pietas- pity, piety In relation, duty can mean dutiful or devotion to God, family, polis, your soldiers. Context always affects certain words Aeneus is an epic hero that’s a bit more relatable to people; he expresses fear! He has an extreme sense of duty. Fury, rage, are other words that’s related to the other two (is what he feels when he sees the city in ruins…etc). 2nd apparition- Helen of Troy According to him, everything is her fault. Because of this, he decides he wants to kill her! He knows that unlike if he killed a man, he won’t get any fame for killing a woman (but he’ll still do it!).

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After that, 2nd Apparition- He sees his mom (Venus). You can’t fulfil your duty to Troy and your city anymore, but you can still do it for the gods and your father and kids (family). She tells him to notice the gods’ actions. Neptune pulls out the walls and throws them down (why, if the Greeks were already in?). Troy had a big market of slaves and most importantly, horses. Neptune helped build Troy. But to do that, he made a deal with the Trojans, which they never repaid. Because of that, he remained mad at the Trojans. Neptune was the god associated with horses, earthquakes. As stories are passed down, from generation to generation, they probably change and become what we now know (Neptune associated with horses---years later, “Trojan Horse”). 3rd Apparition- his wife Creusa, who tells him to go on without her; he’ll meet his future wife in Latium. So overall, in these situations, pietas overcomes furor. Anchises- Aeneus’s father. Ascanius- Aeneus’s son He doesn’t really want to go because he’s an old man; he’s seen wars; he’s tired. A flame burns above Aeneus’s head and a dove also flies above his head. These are archetypal symbols- very related to the Bible. Another one, Aeneus will reach Troy but he’ll only live in it for 3 years—Moses will see the promised land but because he displeased God, he will never enter it. All these omens convince Anchises that his son has a long destiny ahead of him and thus, he agrees to follow him. Virgil is building a Roman epic hero as opposed to a Greek epic hero. Lines 880-896- Aeneus carries his dad on his back, his son next to him and his wife a little bit behind. Father-past, Aeneus-present- Ilius-future He is also a domestic hero-this scene really emphasizes the importance of family. Combined, Virgil might have meant a good citizen should have duty to empire, leaders, gods (pietas) and the way to do that, is preserving family values (domestic). What do they have in common, in terms of technique: pg 985-174-183, pg 993- 520528, pg 1012-472-477, pg 1037- 555-565—and read books 8 and 12 for Mon! Pg 993, 1037- He uses distinct figurative language, like metaphors (comparisons). He also uses similes (…as busy as bees…). They are extended metaphors- they’re pretty long. This is very unique to Virgil-that’s why they are often called Virgilian similes (even though he didn’t invent them). This is all happening as Aeneus arrives to Carthage and starts describing the city.

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The bee simile is very important because it represents how everyone is doing their job, according to their role, in sync and with great efficiency (no emotion is involved). Everyone has their part to do for the good of the hive! The beehive and queen bee would be Carthage and Dido (as well as Rome and Julius Caesar!). Pg 1037- the comparison of Aeneus to a sturdy oak tree represents his strong will and dedication to his duty. Conversely, it shows that he’s emotionless (aw…). He’s also a stoic hero (his devotion and sense of duty overcomes all his emotion; he doesn’t cry!). Book 4: describes a conflict between duty and love and desire (Dido!) Aeneus and his soldiers keep stopping at different places (in book 3). Each time, he would like to stay, like he does in Carthage, completely ignoring his fate. But something happens (omens) that reminds him that he needs to keep going). Virgil describes love as tyrant and a blaze that can consume, burn and wound you. He associates love a lot with fire. “What goods are prayers to a person mad (!!) with love?”. A stoic person does not grieve for the dead because reason says that we must all die at one point. End of page 1026- a Virgilian simile that describes that Dido is like a deer with an arrow in its side; it’s not dead but it just wanders wounded, aimlessly, barely hanging on…. (sad). An important theme that Virgil builds is that love is dangerous, irrational. Book 4 ultimately is about how Aeneus must sacrifice his personal wants, his feelings for his duty. Dido is positive for Aeneus- she’s his blueprint for how to lead a city. She’s also negative- she’s his kryptonite in a way (or he is hers?). She influences his feelings, his heart which would conflict with his destiny. Because of her emotions and feelings for him, she steered away from the caring of the city and everything got disrupted. Aeneus CANNOT follow that example of her. There’s an Agon like the one in Medea; a back and forth between Dido and Aeneus. Dido’s arguments: my life might be in danger, my subjects might not respect me any more…etc, Aeneus’ arguments: we were never really married, I must follow my destiny…etc. After that, Dido practically curses him—which foretells how when he gets to Italy, he will have to fight a war there. Also, “may he never enjoy his realm”- like Moses; he will never enjoy his reign, the fruits of his work. Fighting and love are similar (but not the same) in essence, based on Virgil’s words! Virgil makes allusions to other authors and their works (Euripides, Aeschylus) on page 1038. Homer never did that because when he began writing his works, he had nothing to allude to (he was writing just when letters were created!).

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It’s ironic how Aeneus seeks help from Evander in book 8 (a Greek). When you’re confused on how to interpret a work of literature, start with the basics: ask yourself what happens literally! When he arrives in Italy, the Latins are on their home ground, so they are at an advantage. Evander came from Arcadia and established his own little tribe in Italy. Hercules is a demi god just like Aeneus, but Virgil doesn’t stress that in Aeneus. There’s an implied comparison between Hercules and Aenas. Why is Arcadia important? His new village in Italy is like a little Arcadia really. Pg 1052 (366)-1054 – the place he describes sounds a lot like the Garden of Eden (Prelapsarian-before the fall; post-lapsarian-after the fall). It sounds primitive but really, it’s about the harmony and ease that people lived in. They didn’t have courts and laws…etc, because they didn’t need it! People were not born-they sprang out of oak trees; there were fauns and nymphs (beautiful!) It was a golden age. After that, it was a tarnished age ruled by greed and violence in the pursuit of possession. In Evander’s words, Arcadia was a prelapsarian-like land. All these links between the characters and the past all lead/ relate to the building of the actual Roman empire. The Ritual Arming of the Hero- still seen in movies today. Aeneus’ shield comprises of fictional writings…etc. The details on the shield (pg. 1062- 1064) describe the legendary founding of Rome (Remus and Romulus, all the other figures...etc-they all fought for Rome somehow). Ceasar Augustus gets an even better description (obviously). There’s a reference to Julius Caesar and his assassination, Octavian vs Marc Anthony, Cleopatra…etc; Caesar Augustus defeating Marc Anthony…etc (even though he probably wasn’t even there!). After the description of the shield, we get a description of the actual empire. The shield depicts events from the future. He doesn’t know any of the people but he “takes delight in their likeness and lifts on his shoulders the weight of the future of his children’s children” --the shield! (pg. 1065, 855- similar to when he was carrying his father (past), his son (future)), figuratively. This is soo meaningful! Book 12—wraps everything up. Jove=Jupiter Jupiter confronts Juno (ex: his wife) about all the troubles that she’s inflicted on Aeneus to prevent the fate that they all (the gods) know he is destined to live. After a while, she eventually gives in (“oookay”).

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She wants the people to remain called Latins (not Trojans), she wants them to keep their language and sense of dress. Effectively, she wants Troy to remain dead. The Trojans and Latins will inter-marry and reproduce…etc. PG 1088-Pallas- the son of Evander. Aeneus promised Evander to watch over him in battle…etc. He is young and unexperienced (parallel to the murals mentioned in Book 2 about a young, inexperienced boy killed by a powerful warrior- Tilius killed by Achilles, Achilles’ son killed by Hercules…etc). He was killed by Turnus. At the beginning of book 12, Aeneus asks for a truce- he is willing to let king Latium stay king and they’ll just live in peace, but the people start fighting. Then, still lead by pietas and care for his people and the human lives of the opposing side, he proposes to have a duel with Turnus (just them). Turnus pleads with him to at least return his body when he’s dead. “…He plunges his sword into the heart of an enemy”. Powerful ending! ...although maybe Virgil intended to write more? It could have been pietas and furor combined because Aeneus could have been furious due to his devotion and care to Pallas and his being killed by Turnus and the fact that he failed to protect him. Virgil was a very skilful writer. He incorporated well how everyone and everything in the empire have to function efficiently and without emotions and for the good of the empire (wars, conquests…etc) …but at what price? On his way to greatness, Aeneus has to make so many sacrifices (likewise, people today who are sent to wars and died are mostly young people). In one of the books not in the text, when Aeneus travels to the underworld, amongst the souls that he sees, he sees Dido’s (who killed herself) and he asks stupid questions (am I the cause of your deaths. Etc) that he obviously knows the answer to. She only answers with silence. Sadly, this is the price that Aeneus had to pay (aww). Another reason for book 4!...