The Aeneid

1
The Aeneid

• Key Issues

2
The death of brave young warriors

• Think of the death of Nisus and Euryalus in book
  9. Focus on the loyalty Nisus shows towards
  Euryalus. The placing of their heads on spikes,
  is full of pathos. The youth of Euryalus adds to
  the tragedy as does the grieving of his mother
  the horrors of war!
• The death of Pallas in book 10 Turnus kills him.
  Compare Pallas youthful zeal, (his first battle)
  with the callous experience of Turnus (to him
  killing is second nature). Pallas is the only
  child of Evander, who is hearth broken to see his
  son return deceased. Focus on the heroic funeral
  they give Pallas, whose courage is honoured.

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The death of brave young warriors

• The death of Camilla a brave woman fated to die
  valiantly in battle. Even Opis, her protector,
  weeps when she is killed the god Diana cannot
  prevent her death either.
• Aeneas kills Lausus, Mezentius young son an
  act Aeneas later regrets, because of the boys
  youth. Aeneas is so consumed by rage at the death
  of Pallas that he does not stop to think about
  what he is doing. Another young warrior has
  bitten the dust.
• In all these deaths there is a focus on their
  youth and the tragedy of dying young in war.
  Virgil demonstrates a sensitivity in these deaths
  and this acts as a counterbalance to the ugliness
  and remorselessness of warfare.

4
Aeneas Compassion versus Lack of Feeling

• Aeneas continually subordinates personal
  feelings in favour of public duty in The Aeneid.
  At times this can make him seem heartless and
  unfeeling, however there are many examples of his
  compassion
• The love Aeneas shows for Anchises in book 2 he
  refuses to leave him behind in Troy, instead he
  carries him out of the city on his back. On his
  way to Italy in book 5 Aeneas stops off at Sicily
  and holds funeral games in honour of Anchises
• Aeneas goes back into Troy to look for Creusa
  amid the burning ruins of the city - endangering
  himself. He will not leave his wife behind.

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Aeneas Compassion versus Lack of Feeling

• Aeneas avenges the death of Pallas in book 10.
  The death of the young prince enrages Aeneas who
  goes on a killing spree after he finds out about
  the young mans death. Another show of emotion
  for the untimely death of his ally.
• His treatment of Dido in book 4 seems cruel and
  unfeeling but remember the role of Jupiter, and
  Mercury (who visits him twice to tell him to
  leave Carthage and forget about Dido). Aeneas has
  to depart what choice does he have?

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Aeneas Compassion versus Lack of Feeling

• In book 6 Aeneas meets Dido in the underworld and
  does try to say sorry. She turns her back on him.
  Aeneas demonstrates some guilt and remorse here.
  The Sybil even has to tell him to move on and
  forget about the matter.
• Aeneas puts piety and duty before all else - is
  this good or bad? Aeneas is more loyal to his
  cause and sacrifices private interests to achieve
  his mission. This stoicism well reflects the
  author of the epic and the importance of true
  Romans showing duty and loyalty to the state.

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The role of Anchises

• Anchises plays a crucial role in the The Aeneid
  as Aeneas looks up to his father and listens to
  his advise at all times
• In book 3 Anchises prompts Aeneas to leave by
  sea, when his ships have been built.
• When Apollo tells Aeneas to go to the land of his
  ancestors Anchises tells Aeneas to go to Crete,
  which he does. Likewise, when Anchises realises
  that this is a mistake he informs Aeneas to
  follow the advise of the household gods and go to
  Italy instead where his ancestors hailed from.

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The role of Anchises

• In book 5 the ghost of Anchises comes to Aeneas
  and tells Aeneas to accept the advise of Nautes
  and leave a group of Trojans behind, whom he
  cannot bring because several ships have been
  destroyed, thanks to one of Junos furies.
• Anchises tells Aeneas to come and visit him in
  the underworld.
• In book 6, Anchises has a lengthy talk with his
  son a bout his future difficulties and successes
  in Rome.
• Anchises is essentially a mentor and guide to his
  uncertain and confused son in the early stages of
  the epic.

9
Father Figures

• Jupiter- father to the gods makes the final
  decisions. He hold a war council at least twice
  in the epic and decides what is to become of
  Aeneas. Jupiter is more authorative than the
  scheming Juno and Venus
• Anchises guides Aeneas in book 3 on his travels
  and meets his son in book 5 and 6.
• Evander is a good father to Pallas and is heart
  broken to see his son die in battle, but is proud
  of him and gives him a lavish burial.

10
Father Figures

• Mezenthius tries to avenges the death of his
  young son Lauses whom Aeneas kills. He tries to
  kill Aeneas but fails.
• Aeneas puts Ascanius in charge of his settlement
  when he is away looking for allies. In book 12 he
  hugs his son before going into battle with Turnus.

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Hospitality in The Aeneid

• Note how Dido welcomes the Trojans in book 1. She
  treats them as her guests, giving them a place to
  stay etc. There is even an exchange of
  gift-giving to cement this alliance. Aeneas gives
  her garments taken from his ship.
• In book 3 the harpies attack Aeneas and his men
  as they eat on the island of Strophades they
  swoop down and try to steal Aeneas food. One of
  the harpies, Celano, even issues a dire warning
  to Aeneas about his future trials. This is hardly
  a model example of hospitality.

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Hospitality in The Aeneid

• The Sicilian king is very welcoming to Aeneas and
  the Trojans in book 5. He allows the Trojans to
  hold rituals for Anchises and joins them in the
  funeral games they arrange. At the end of this
  book he allows some Trojans to remain on because
  Aeneas does not have enough ships to bring
  everybody with him to Italy.
• In Book 7 Aeneas goes to king Latinus. Here is
  warmly welcomed and the king even tells Aeneas
  about the prophecy about Lavinia, his daughter,
  marrying a foreigner. Once again gifts are given.
  300 hundred horses with golden bridles.
• In book 8 Aeneas goes to king Evander. Here he
  is given food etc. The king offers Aeneas some
  help- but this is modest because Evander is poor.

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Comparisons Between The Aeneid and The Odyssey

• Many exam questions ask you to make comparisons
  between different elements of The Aeneid and The
  Odyssey. The following are the typical areas that
  are focused on
• The visit to the underworld
• The wanderings of the heroes in each epic
• Juno hindering Aeneas and Poseidon hindering
  Odysseus
• Venus helping Aeneas and Athena helping Odysseus
• The description of Odysseus in The Odyssey versus
  the description of Ulysses in The Aeneid
• The role of Ascanius versus the role of
  Telemachus