the aeneid- book 1 summary and analysis

what line does virgil open book 1 with?

"i sing of arms and of the man"

what does the first chapter of the aeneid assert?

conveys virgils intention to explore a hero who partakes in war, consults the muse, establishes the theme of fate

analysis of the first chapter of the aeneid

direct homage to homer - engages with literary predecessor- one ups homer by stating that he will tell a story of both a hero and of a war-soldier

begins in media res- unlike homer's poetry

waits a number of lines before invoking the muse- parallels opening line of the odessey but surpasses him by emphesizing his presence as a narrator and calling to the muse out of genuine belief in divine inspiration than obligation

contemporaneous to the odessey

what is significant about virgils homages and alternations to homers literary techniques?

attempts to surpass homer's writing

his constant tweaking of homers key techniques (such as invoking the muse several lines later) symbolises the birth of something greater than the ashes of stories already told- a new roman epic for a new augustian roman empire

what narrator does virgil use?

third person omniscient narrator- tone of historical authority and importance

sometimes becomes an intrusive narrator by introducing himself in the first person

makes references to modern day politics (augustian propaganda)

when was virgil born?

70 BC

- born into a land- owning wealthy family

how did virgil become famous?

his early poetry ( the eclogues ) about the countryside was noticed by Maecenas who was an advisor to octavian and wrote poetry in support of him

when did virgil die and what was his dying wish?

19 BC

wished for the aeneid to be burned, augustus refused and published it anyways

what is the story of the golden apple?

- marriage between mortal Peleis and goddess Thetis, goddess Eris was there and threw a golden apple onto the wedding table which read " for the most beautiful " on the label - aphrodite (venus), hera (juno), and athene (minerva) tried to claim the golden apple

- zeus refused to judge so Paris did

-hera bribed him with power, athene bribed him with wisdom, and aphrodite offerred him helen (the most beautiful mortal woman) and wife of menelaus.

- paris chose aphrodite as the most beautiful woman, angering juno, and paris and helen settled down in troy

what happened after paris married (abducted) helen and settled down in troy?

-helen's ex- husband Menelaus sailed to troy with a huge gathering of greek troops, lead by Agamemnon and incuded Odysseyus and Achilles, the soldiers seiged with troy for 10 years

how does the trojan war conclude?

-odysseus comes up with the idea of the trojan horse, after being taken into the city they broke out during the night, opened the gates to let nearby greeks in and burned the city, capturing or killing survivors

-the gods punished them by sending strong winds and making their journey back home impossible due to their destruction of scared temples and various crimes

-the surviving trojans were forced to flee and find another place to live under the leadership of Aeneas

what does the greek word "hērōs" translate to?

"protector / fighter / leader"

- doesn't say anything about being a good person

- includes courage to do anything to succeed in battle

- hero cult = everyone worshipping hero

timē meaning (greek)

honour

adiōs meaning (greek)

shame

kleos meaning (greek)

glory

examples of timē ( honour )

-recieve gifts, take enemies armour (spoils of war)

- comes from independent courage in battle, beauty, social status, possesions, physical abilities

examples of adiōs (shame)

-being a coward, running away, surrendering, being short lol

examples of kleos (glory)

honour leads to kleos -> eternal glory in the afterlife

were roman values the same as greek?

no- they incorporated and adapted greek heroic ideals into their culture, but they reflected societal values of the republic and empire -> weren't mirrors of the greek counterparts

how does aeneas represent roman values?

cares for roman refugees, is a good leader, helps them find a new home, carries his family on his back

how does romulus represent roman values?

overthrows a wicked king, fights for injustice, kills his own brother for the benefit of rome and his own honour / power

what does "clementia" mean?

"clemency" or "mercy"

- is also the name of a roman goddess

what are the main 4 roman values?

clementia, furor, pietas, virtus

what are the main 3 greek values?

time, aidos, kleos

(honour, shame and glory)

what does furor mean?

"rage" or "frenzy"

- seen as negative - overwhelmed by emotions - leads to impulsive actions

what does pietas mean?

" piety " or " duty "

- respect to the gods, your country, and your family (particularly father)

what is virtus?

"virtue", "courage" or "mortal excellence"

-personal bravery and upholding roman values

greek and roman interpretations of moivation

greek - cleos - personal glory and ambition to be worshipped and admired

roman - upholding duty and upholding rome

greek and roman contrast in heroic code

greek- personal heroism - love of battle, spoils of war, having their stories told

roman - pietas and bringing glory to the community of romans

greek and roman contrast in hero's lifespan

greek- die young, in battle, in heroic and gory wats

roman- die at a good age in a noble way

( eg romulus was taken by sunlight, aeneas was surrounded with trojans)

what is the plot of book 1 of the aeneid?

-The trojans, 7 years after leaving troy, are sailing just off the coast of sicily, very near to italy and their destiny

- juno is determined that they don't so offers king aeolus deiopea so that he can send a storm which blows them off course and they arrive in carthage

- venus complains to jupiter of her son's sufferring and worries his fate has been rewritten, he assures her that it hasn't

- venus sends cupid disguised as ascanius to make dido fall in love with aeneas

what is aeneas' destiny?

-he will reach italy, settle the trojans, and his decendants will found da great city which will rule the world

what happens to the trojan ships during the storm?

-sucked into a whirlpool

- blocked in with walls of sand

- collapse and flood

-example of epic poetry- extreme, graphic, fateful, dramatic, divinely influenced

why does neptune calm he storm?

-anger towards aelous and juno for influencing the sea (his role)

- the sea is described as a "common mob" running riot and neptune is a good calm man ->> reference to augustus as a force of calm (referencing his closing of the gates of Janus), very unhomeric

what are the gates of janus?

gates in the forum which symbolise peace and lack of warfare when closed -> the second time out of 4 it happened

- symbolic of his military and political achievements - presents him as a saviour and force of calm

augustus propaganda quotes example in book one

"i have given them an empire that will know no end" - jupiter - commenting on the greatness and perminance of the new emporer

"the dread gates of war with their tight fastenings of steel will then be closed" -jupiter - prophesising augustus' victories are predetermined by fate and divinely influenced

"common mob runs riot... his words command passion and his words soothe their hearts"

how does aeneas reacts to the storm?

cries on a beach, wishes to have died at troy, extreme, emotional, unheroic- intertextual reference

why does juno hate the trojans?

- the trojans are fated to overthrow carthage in the blood of troy -> carthage is her favourite place (keeps armour and chariot there, ancient, had great wealth, ruthless in war)

- prince of troy didn't pick her to be the most beautiful woman

- keeps trojans from settling (salt on crops) so that they cannot destroy carthage

Whom does Juno ask to help her destroy the Trojan fleet?

king aeolus - god of wind

- angers neptune as he influenced the sea - his role

how does aeneas show heroism and pietas in book 1?

-gathers the surviving trojans - gives a pep talk, gathers food, warmth and shelter for them, motivates them, comforts and mourn together after collective trauma

what does venus worry about aeneas in book 1?

that her son's fate has been changed and he is no longer destined to destroy carthage after facing so many hardships

what information does jupiter reveal to venus concerning aeneas' destiny?

-aeneas' fate is still secure -> he will win the war in italy, set up lavinium in latium and live there for three years

-his son ascanius will found alba longa and rule there as king for 30 years

-300 years later ascanius' descendant romulus will found the roman race

how is the city of carthage described?

idyllic and holy, "the hive seethes with activity and the fragrance of honey"

metaphor to describe dido as a queen, fair ruler that everyone looks up to

- democratic society - senate - roman system of democracy -->> subtly critisizes both homer's new empire and the greek traditions of politics- honouring roman traditions as being superlative

what backstory does venus tell aeneas?

- dido came to be queen of carthage after fleeing her homeland of tyre ,where she was princess, with tyrrian refugees after her husband sychaeus was murdered by her brother pygmalion

what was dido building in the wooded grove?

a huge temple for juno "rich with offerrings"

how does aeneas react upon descovering her mother was disguised as a mortal?

hurt, angry, talks in critisism of her

- shows the complexity of mortal and divine relationships - grey areas

- shouldn't be able to talk to a goddess with a rude tone, let alone see their true form, without being punished

what "strange sight" reassured aeneas?

"depictions of the battles fought at troy"

-aeneas cries, famous, favoured, emotion driven

how is dido first described?

"tallest of the goddesses" "bore herself joyfully" "beauty" aeneas is "lost in amazement"

"like diana" ->>> associated with hunting and virginity, untouchable, brave, uninterested in men, powerful, looks out for her people -> made against her will to be interested in men

what did ilioneus (trojan comrade) ask dido for?

to take pity on them

- if aeneas is alive for her to help them rebuild so they can make for latium, if not then to return them to king acestes (old home)

what does dido offer aeneas and the trojans?

safety under her protection

to look for her aeneas

a home in carthage as equals

invites aeneas to dine with her in her palace