Virgil (70 - 19 B.C.)
Like all Latin poets, built on the Greek tradition (Norton 997).
The Aeneid
Things to Consider:
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Duty: Self vs. Love vs. Country
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Fate vs. Free Will
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Role of Gods/Relationship to Humans
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Role of Women
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Relationship to Family
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See map of his journey
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Selected Characters:
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Aeneas: Founder of the Roman People, Trojan Prince
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Creusa: Aeneas's Trojan Wife
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Ascanius/Iulus: Son of Aeneas and Creusa
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Anchises: Aeneas's Father
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Aphrodite/Venus/Cytherea:
Aeneas's Mother
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Dido: Former queen of Tyre, Founder of Carthage
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** Homework Questions **
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Who is Aeneas? Who are his parents?
513:
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How does Aeneas compare to Odysseus?
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What is Aeneas' mission?
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What is a possible moral to this work?
Book Four:
516:
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Who is Sichaeus? Who is Pygmalion?
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Why does Dido attempt to deny her attraction to Aeneas? What/Who
changes her mind?
520:
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Are Dido and Aeneas actually married? Explain. (See also
525).
521:
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How are they "lust-enslaved" (521)?
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Describe Rumor. How does she function here?
525:
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Explain Aeneas's statement: "'Tis is not my own free act seeks Italy"
(525).
Other Discussion Questions:
517:
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Does seeking a match with Aeneas constitute an abandonment of her responsibilities
as the founder of Carthage? Explain.
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Why is it ironic for Dido to pray to Juno, overseer of marriage bonds?
519:
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Who is "Cythera's Queen"? What does she not like about the idea of a
union between Dido and Aeneas?
522:
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Who is Mercury? What task does Jove give him?
524:
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Explain Dido's statement:
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Yes, for thee
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My chastity was slain and honor fair,
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By which alone to glory I aspired
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In former days.
526:
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How does Dido respond to Aeneas's explanation for his departure?
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Why doesn't Aeneas at least grant Dido's wish for him to wait a little
before leaving?
530:
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Why doesn't Dido go with the Trojans?
531:
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Explain: "A mutable and shifting thing / Is woman ever" (531).
532:
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Explain Dido's prophetic prayers.
534:
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Why is Dido's suicide "unexpected" by the gods?
"Group" Discussion Questions:
1. Compare the following pairs of people in terms of their
function in their respective works.
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The Aeneid |
The Iliad |
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Aeneas |
Achilles |
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Venus |
Thetis |
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Juno |
Juno |
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Venus |
Venus |
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Dido |
Jocasta (actually in Oedipus Rex) |
2. Describe Aeneas's treatment of Dido. Does he mistreat or
mislead her or are his actions justifiable? Explain.
3. Describe the role of Fate in the lives of Dido and
Aeneas.
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