Aeneid critics
Aeneas- ‘It is Aeneas who loses in the end’- Williams. This means that due to coming to violence and
killing Turnus, he loses his pietas.
- He is not able to fulfil the pious presentation that he is wanting to create for himself.
- The way that he has demonstrated his furor towards Turnus shows that he is not the man he
intended to be.
Augustan context- Pattie argues that civil war has created ‘deep feelings of guilt’ in the Roman
world, and ‘Virgil’s handling of his legendary material reflects these feelings’.- Pattie
- The negative portrayal of war and the excessive killing that is shown.
The role of the gods- The gods pose ‘insufferable difficulties’ for the Trojans and Aeneas, yet they do
enjoy some ‘divine support’- Gibson
- Juno provides ‘insufferable difficulties’ for Aeneas in bk1.
- Also in book 4 through the marriage.
- Juno provides support.
- Poseidon provides support
- Mercury supports.
Piety vs Furor- We see that Aenenas can use ‘desperate violence’. His first response to Troy falling is
‘impulsive and emotional’.- Gibson
- He tries to kill Helen.
Augustan context- Virgil throughout the poem cleverly manages to discuss the ‘future’ glory of
Rome.- Powers
- Shield in book 8.
The underworld- Virgil uses the underworld as’ vital transition for Aeneas from uncertain and
troubled to emboldened and assured’. - Powers
- He has learned of the fate waiting for him in the future through the underworld and is now
motivated to fulfil it.
- In the second half of the Aeneid he becomes motivated to found Rome.
The underworld and piety- ‘The decision to enter the underworld itself rests with Aeneas’ alone’.-
Powers
- Anchises says he ‘knew [Aeneas’] rigour would prevail’.
Augustan context- ‘The pageant of unborn Roman heroes which Anchises describes is the most
powerful patriotic passage in the whole poem’.- Williams
- This is to directly link to the Augustan context.
-
Relationships- Nisus and Euryalus are ‘too homeric’ in their attempt to gain glory- Cowan
Aeneas- ‘It is Aeneas who loses in the end’- Williams. This means that due to coming to violence and
killing Turnus, he loses his pietas.
- He is not able to fulfil the pious presentation that he is wanting to create for himself.
- The way that he has demonstrated his furor towards Turnus shows that he is not the man he
intended to be.
Augustan context- Pattie argues that civil war has created ‘deep feelings of guilt’ in the Roman
world, and ‘Virgil’s handling of his legendary material reflects these feelings’.- Pattie
- The negative portrayal of war and the excessive killing that is shown.
The role of the gods- The gods pose ‘insufferable difficulties’ for the Trojans and Aeneas, yet they do
enjoy some ‘divine support’- Gibson
- Juno provides ‘insufferable difficulties’ for Aeneas in bk1.
- Also in book 4 through the marriage.
- Juno provides support.
- Poseidon provides support
- Mercury supports.
Piety vs Furor- We see that Aenenas can use ‘desperate violence’. His first response to Troy falling is
‘impulsive and emotional’.- Gibson
- He tries to kill Helen.
Augustan context- Virgil throughout the poem cleverly manages to discuss the ‘future’ glory of
Rome.- Powers
- Shield in book 8.
The underworld- Virgil uses the underworld as’ vital transition for Aeneas from uncertain and
troubled to emboldened and assured’. - Powers
- He has learned of the fate waiting for him in the future through the underworld and is now
motivated to fulfil it.
- In the second half of the Aeneid he becomes motivated to found Rome.
The underworld and piety- ‘The decision to enter the underworld itself rests with Aeneas’ alone’.-
Powers
- Anchises says he ‘knew [Aeneas’] rigour would prevail’.
Augustan context- ‘The pageant of unborn Roman heroes which Anchises describes is the most
powerful patriotic passage in the whole poem’.- Williams
- This is to directly link to the Augustan context.
-
Relationships- Nisus and Euryalus are ‘too homeric’ in their attempt to gain glory- Cowan
