theme - parents and children/family

What parents and children are there?

1. Pallas and Evander
2. Aeneas as a pseudo-father to Pallas
3. Aeneas and Ascanius
4. Aeneas and Anchises
5. Euryalus and Euryalus’ mother
6. Lausus and Mezentius
7. Amata and pseudo-son Turnus
8. Amata + Latinus and Lavinia
9. Venus and Aeneas
10. Venus and Zeus

What other family relationships are shown in the poem

* ***Aeneas and Anchises*** *(father/son) (bk 2 and 6) (close, carries him on back, Underworld, wise adviser?)*
* ***Aeneas and Venus*** *(mother/son) (bk 1 – frustration, bk 2 – gods fighting, Ae must escape, bk 8 – armour, bk 10 – Venus/Juno argument, bk 12 – heals him)  Not the usual loving, intimate relationship – she clearly loves him but….*
* ***Turnus and Juturna*** *(brother/sister) (bk 12) one way! He is frustrated – she cares… tries to avert his fate, always in disguise!*  
* ***Aeneas and Iulus/Ascanius*** *(father/son) (bk 12 – Ae’ speech) Not that intimate – Ae seems to see him either as a child or as a symbol, a means of carrying on the destiny of Rome. Not pathos/poignancy.* 
* ***Evander and Pallas*** *(father/son) (bk 8, 11) – poignant, pathos, grief – throws himself on body etc etc. (young son)*
* ***Mezentius and Lausus*** *(father/son) (bk 10) – young son, only child* 
* ***Euryalus and mother*** *(mother/son) (bk 9) – young son, only child, mother’s grief – particularly wild!* 
* ***Amata/Latinus with Lavinia/Turnus*** *(mother/father with daughter/son in law) Seen more in death (Amata’s), only child (Lav), other son died. Amata/Latinus argue. No proper communication between them. Lavinia = mute.* 
* ***Metabus and Camilla*** *(father/daughter) – fatherly love, intimacy, perversion of normal family relationship* 
* ***Jupiter with Juno/Venus*** *(complex!) – power/control/hierarchy – who ultimately gets their way?* 
* ***Aeneas and Creusa*** *(bk 2) – mad with grief, three times tries to embrace ghost, she says “think of our son”.* 
* ***Dido and Anna*** *(bk 4) – she uses Anna, awful grief scene at end*

What does Mercury say about Iulus’ legacy to get Aeneas to leave in Book 4?

you owe him the land of Rome

When do we see Aeneas’ loss of Crease in Book 2?

‘three times I tried to put my arms around her neck’

What does Creusa say about Ascanius to Aeneas in Book 2?

‘there prosperity is waiting for you, and a kingdom and a royal bride’.

What is a quote that showcases Venus’ love?

‘he was like the morning star, which Venus loves above all of the others’.

How does Venus showcase her love for Aeneas

* Book 8 shield
* Book 1, Venus helps him out in disguise – providing information, guidance and a cloud of dust which enhances his appearance.
* In Book 8, Venus provides the shield and emotional support for Aeneas. Instilling spirit in him so he can take on the fight with Turnus. Aeneas reciprocates his love for his mother through their ‘embrace’ in Book 8, highlighting his gratefulness for her help and finally showing herself to him – juxtaposing what he says in Book 1.

What is Anchises’ key piece of advice to Aeneas in Book 6

Pardon the defeated, war down the proud

How is Aeneas a pseudo-father to Pallas?

He promises Evander to keep Pallas safe and avenges him like a son in the final book, perverting stoicism in the name of family and disregarding his own fathers’ advice.

Griffin on happy families

There are no happy families in the Aeneid

Gransden on fathers

The Aeneid is dominated by fathers

King on the final action of Aeneas

‘Aeneas has chosen Pallas’ Greek father over his own ‘Roman father’

Sowerby on the image of Aeneas and Anchises and Ascanius in Book 2

is the patriarchal ideal of Roman society