Virgil's Aeneid, written in the 1st century BC, was nearly destroyed after the author's death but was preserved, becoming one of the most influential works in Western culture. It tells the story of Aeneas, who fled burning Troy and eventually settled in Italy, establishing the basis for Rome. Virgil aimed to promote Roman ideals and the revitalization of Roman life under Augustus. Though some found the hero Aeneas lacking, the work has been analyzed throughout history from various perspectives, including as a pagan bible, style guide, allegory, and symbol of European unity.

1. World Literature I Introduction to Rome, Virgil, and The Aeneid, but not necessarily in that order…

2. Overview In 17bc, the dying Virgil asked that his unfinished work be burned Fortunately, it was not, changing the entire history of western culture Along with the Bible, the Aeneid was one of the most consistently read books of the last 2000 years. Virgil’s Desire?

3. Overview The Aeneid was composed in part to celebrate “truth, justice, and the Roman way” and to promote the revitalization of the Roman way of life under Augustus To accomplish this, Virgil drew on the whole of Greek and Latin literature to create his epic. Aeneas, Anchises, and Ascanius

4. Overview Over the last 2000 years, the Aeneid has been used as a pagan bible, a Latin style manual, a moral allegory, and a document of European unity. The work still speaks immediately to the reader.

5. Biography Full name: Publius Vergilius Maro (sometimes Virgil, sometimes Vergil) Born in October 15, 70bc Died September 21, 19bc Virgil

6. Biography Earliest biography was by Suetonis (2nd century AD) Not much is known, but among the likeliest are: He was a Roman citizen; had excellent and expensive education; member of the Roman bar; family was ambitious)

7. Biography His family’s property was confiscated but returned after the intervention of they young Octavian Caesar (Augustus) Wrote Eclogues (between 42 and 37 bc) and Georgics, perhaps his greatest work (between 36 and 29 bc) Lived primarily in Naples but returned to Rome to die

8. Biography Planned to complete the epic in about 10 years Acutely concerned with leaving unrevised work after death The work was unfinished at his death It was Augustus who intervened and preserved the work (might he also have commissioned it?)

9. Themes Roman History Virgil is concerned with Roman history but handles it quite differently than previous writers who constructed epics out of history Virgil uses a legend for the main line of the narrative, while history was insinuated into prophecy, visions, and into the description of objects (like the shield). The Shield of Aeneas

10. Themes Right Conduct, the Roman way of life, and Roman destiny Moral center is the Roman way of life which Augustus was trying to revitalize System was based on duty to the gods, to country, and to family and friends In system, private experience and duty are often placed in tension against public duty It is clear, that Virgil believes that the ideals of Roman life and public service remain worth the often difficult struggle with self

11. Themes The sorrows at the heart of things Human loss and regret (modern vision of theme)

12. Themes Private and public ideals Strong sense of tension between two ideals Individual human felicity Mission of Rome Perhaps characterizes Virgil’s ethical ideals Stoic philosophy (self-sacrifice) Epicurean philosophy (philosophical quietism, a retreat from the world, a longing for an absence of pain)

13. Style Point of view Personal vision (from Aeneas) Patriotic vision (concerned with the genesis of the Roman empire and Roman history)

14. Style Setting Ranges across entire Mediterranean region Map of Ancient Roman World

15. Style Imitation Drew heavily from Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey Six books are “Little Iliad” Other six books are “Little Odyssey”

16. Style Divine intervention Gods have a number of roles in Aeneid Providential divine intention Seemingly irrational hostile forces Gods were tremendously powerful artistic symbol

17. Style Imagery Work derives power from repetition and startling variation of particular images (see serpent and fire imagery in Book 2)

18. Style Structure Divided between books of intense action (even numbered books) and diffuse action (odd numbered books). Trilogy: tragedy of dido (1-4), tragedy of Turnus (9-12), and central Roman section (5-9) “Little Iliad” preceded by “Little Odyssey”

19. Historical context Roman government Founded in 753bc. 250 as a monarchy last king was tyrant (son Tarquin raped wife of a roman nobleman, celebrated? By Shakespeare in the Rape of Lucrece) L. Junius Brutus and the Romans drove the Tarquin family out and set up a republic 450 years as a republic, ruled by senate and consuls Imperial rule follows (with some attributes of the senate continuing) Tarquin and Lucrecia

20. Historical context Rome and War Roman history is full of wars (both under Republic and as an Empire) Motives: survival, expansion, and military achievement (for nobility) Punic wars (against Carthage) Dido’s Carthage

21. Historical context Roman Society under Pressure Major power after Punic wars Social problems set in after defeat of Carthage (without single-minded focus, Rome began to fall apart) Problems were also created by the wars, their effect on family farms, and the effects of growing estates. Roman society needed drastic action

22. Historical context Renewal under Augustus Thrown back into civil war by the assassination of Caesar ( a period culminating with the defeat of Marc Antony in 31bc). Augustus attempted to revitalize the traditional way of life. Virgil was commissioned to write in part to remind the Romans of the circumstances which created them Augustus

23. Historical context The Roman Way of Life Mos maiorem (manners of ancestors) had both a religious and social aspect Roman religion was based on two sets of gods: Olympian (stolen from Greek, but renamed) and Penates (household gods which were protective spirits of the family, the hearth, the store room, and the countryside (each family had their own)) Roman society based on patronage system (along with strong family ties) Practical and honorable way of life Patrons stood by his clients and ensured that they always received justice under Roman Law, offered advice, and helped careers. Note relationships between Aeneas and Pallas (which mirrors relationship between Anchises and Evander) or between Virgil and Augustus. Olympian Gods Penates

24. Critical Overview Earliest reactions Critics began with style and sources Companions to the text were often published to assist readers 5th century writers treated Virgil as Roman Bible (an attempt to defend their gods, their way of life, and the nature of Rome from the growing Christian cult

25. Critical Overview Early Christian reaction Mixed reaction for Virgil was the poet of the state which Christians sought to usurp Work was also essential part of an education Saint Augustine admitted to crying over Dido’s tragic end In the end, Christianity simply co-opted Virgil—some even saw him as a prophet of Christ.

26. Critical Overview Middle ages Used as a schoolbook for study of Latin Often treated as an allegory about the soul’s growth to maturity and virtue Aeneidwas treated as a sort of coded message, full of deep, hidden meanings

27. Critical Overview Modern criticism Begins in 17th century Treated work not as an allegory, but as a narrative, like a history Believed narrative provided models of highest qualities of conduct for princes and their subjects

28. Critical Overview Romanticism The Romantics found Aeneas to be a poor hero and were unimpressed by Roman destiny as a theme. However, they praised Virgil for his style and emotional sensitivities. Hence much criticism praises his “private voice”

29. Critical Overview 20th century understanding revolves around an increasingly more sophisticated understanding of the literary, social, and political reality of Virgil’s world.