1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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