Aeneid

Many characters in Greek and Roman literature are subject to divine manipulation, and the gods’ furor can result in disastrous effects on cities and their citizens. The furor of the characters in the Aeneid is volatile and often dangerous. Regardless of whether it begins with a human or a god, it can leave disaster in its wake, particularly when the gods play a role. Although Dido is subject to Venus and Juno 's interference, she is ultimately responsible for losing control because the…

The question of justice in any situation concerning warfare is a difficult one to address, as many people hold opposing views on the righteousness of war itself. In the Aeneid, Virgil proposes a new question for readers to consider as he allows the main character, Aeneas, to undergo a change in mentality throughout the epic. The reader is forced to decide whether the killing of an opponent is deemed as just or unjust. Although many scholars have proposed differing definitions of justice, Plato…

children are being forced to read Virgil’s Aeneid in English class, they consider the story to be about an intense battle between two strong groups of people; although, what many of us do not understand is that the battle is not just physical, it is mental as well. If you look up the definition of “naive” on Urban Dictionary, you see words relating to it such as “stupid”, “gullible”, and “ignorant”. These words relate to the epic tale called the Aeneid; which, is written by Virgil. The…

The readings I’m going to use to compare values are Antigone, Aeneid, and Beowulf. Each of these stories have very strong leading characters, which whom poses values, such as, duty, courage, and compassion. Each story has someone who represents a hero; Antigone, Aeneid, and Beowulf are all considered hero’s in their own respective stories. Antigone is considered to be the most well rounded story when it comes to containing all four values discussed at the beginning of this paper. Antigone has…

In Virgil’s "The Aeneid" there were two main tragic figures, Dido and Turnus. Even though these characters may seem vastly different they are also similar in many ways. For example, both characters are driven by emotional gains and self empowerment. Dido’s actions much like Turnus’s actions are derived from emotions towards/about Aeneas which ultimately lead to their demise (Fagles). Unlike Aeneas Dido and Turnus are crowded with the need to fulfill their own needs rather than duty, which…

Aeneas is the prime example of what it means to represent pietas. Pietas is a custom that Romans used to describe ones duty and or loyalty to their family, the gods, and their city. Throughout book two Aeneas continuously shows how he goes above and beyond to fulfill his pietas to his father Anchises, his wife Creusa, and his beloved city of Troy. While Aeneas constantly fulfilled pietas by making sacrifices that not only affected him, but also his family this built Aeneas character molding him…

Fate in the Aeneid, as it is in the Odyssey and the Iliad, is a driving force. Without fate the story would be at a standstill. Throughout the story fate and destiny causes the main protagonist to continue on his journey to Italy. Aeneas goes to the son of Priam, Helenus, who has a gift for prophecy. Helenus, in his oracle to Aeneas, says, “The Lord God deals out destiny so and turns the wheel of change; so turns the world,” (Bk 3. 512-513). The indication of this quote seems to be that…

For some reason I had a very difficult time making sense of this epic. It seems to me the Ancient Romans see themselves as destined people. After Troy was sacked by the Greeks through the use of the Trojan horse Aeneas is forced to leave his burning city behind to carry on his destiny. His destiny is to carry on the Roman Empire elsewhere after their defeat. He believes in his own destiny so much that he forsakes love and loses his father. The Ancient Romans believe that there destiny is…

Latinus, the ruler of Latium, receives a message from an oracle declaring that his daughter, Lavinia, must marry a foreigner. “Don’t seek to marry your daughter within any Latin alliance, / Son of my blood, don’t trust in an easy and ready-made wedding! / Sons-in-law will one day arrive from a foreign world and, with their blood, / Raise our name to the stars!” (7.96-98) When Aeneas arrives in Latium shortly thereafter, Latinus receives him warmly, declaring that the Trojan will receive his…

The glorious story Aeneid depicts the preconstruction of Roman empire, and the plot is promoted through several conflicts and fights. One particular conflict that serves as the turning point of the whole story is the difference between man and woman. Female characters advance and fulfill the epic poem Aeneid by their distinctive characteristics from other male figures. No where is Virgil’s notion of gender difference more obvious than in the story of Dido and Aeneas throughout Book Four when…