from the Aeneid from Book II, The Fall of Troy by Virgil The Mykonos Vase, with one of the earliest known renditions of the Trojan Horse

The Character of Virgil Full name is Publius Vergilius Maro, and lived much of his life under political turmoil It was only until Virgil was 40 that Caesar’s nephew, Octavian (Augustus), restored order to Rome; this is when Virgil composes the epic history of founding Rome Vigil’s deep roots are in the Italian countryside (Mantua); went through a period as a young man where he composed “pastoral” poetry Father was a farmer who afforded Virgil a good, but modest, education

The Character of Virgil The shy, young Virgil, for the first time, was in the big city Studied Greek law, philosophy, and literature; tried his hand at being a lawyer but found it to be too stressful Another war broke out, and Virgil went back to his country home (pastoral poetry period) Family’s land was confiscated during that time Octavian’s minister of propaganda helped them to get it back

The Character of Virgil The minister took a liking to Virgil’s work With a reputation in place, Virgil constructs the journey of Aeneas, called the Aeneid The writing of the Aeneid was a methodical and slow process that consumed the last ten years of his life He complained that the project was driving him insane Virgil became ill on a trip to Greece when the manuscript was nearly finished

The Character of Virgil As his dying wish, he begged his friends to burn the manuscript Augustus understood the literary importance of the work, as well as the value of the piece as propaganda: he decides to preserve it The work is roughly based on works found in the Iliad Virgil, indirectly, accomplishes his goal: creating a national epic

Ulysses vs. Aeneas There are many parallels between Aeneas and Ulysses Ulysses is the “singer” of his heroic feats, while Aeneas is the “teller” of his Ulysses delights in recounting his many adventures; for Aeneas, the recollection of his journey brings him much pain Ulysses is a proud man who is more so a boaster in opposition to Aeneas, whose journey has made him humble

Aeneas His journey begins after being exiled after the burning of Troy by the Romans The ghost of his dead wife (Creusa), has told him to sail to Italy Aeneas is often times blown off course At one point, he lands in Carthage, where he meets Queen Dido Dido curses him when he leaves, and commits suicide out of grief for his departure So begins Book VI, which we will cover later

A New Take on the Bildungsroman Virgil, a Roman, felt it necessary to transform what he learned from the Greeks Aeneas, when found in Book I, is weeping in frustration and envious of those who fell in Troy Aeneas, like Ulysses, is courageous and valiant, yet deeply sensitive, complex, and enigmatic; Ulysses, on the other hand, paints himself as larger than life: he is Superman, while Aeneas is Batman Aeneas replaces an older heroic ideal with as a hero with human limitations and adverse fate

Virgil’s Influence Though written before the birth of Christ, the Christian ideals of duty, moderation, and piety are found throughout the Aeneid Literary critics recognize Virgil’s epic as the fullest development of the classic epic At the same time, many Christians still view Virgil as a heretic and the Aeneid as a pagan work

Introductionto the Aeneid, Book II Virgil’s invocation before book one is “I sing of arms and the man” Extended battle scenes and many other epic elements were borrowed from Homer Aeneas is the narrator, but plays a secondary role The narrative is a story between external and internal conflicts