The heroic world – characterisation and themes
Concepts, values & behaviour of a Greek and roman hero
In homer the hero:
- Is intent on performing actions that will gain him a place in the repertoire of bards – earning him fame
and immortality (kleos)
- Must be mortal but high-born
- Helped/hindered by the gods
- Fights because it is an obligation to his family, ancestors and community
- Fights for his own glory
- Pursues gifts as a mark of honour (timē)
- Looks impressive
- Ferocious when fighting
- Shows emotion
- Skilled with words
- Often shown putting in armour before going into battle
Presentation of Turnus as the second Aeneas:
- Has obligations as a leader
- Burns with fury against his enemy
- Bold & brave in his fighting
- Has divine protection
- Impressive in his armour
- Has horses with more power than a regular horse
- Is proud & has a fear of shame
- Likened in similes to fierce animals
- Young
Presentation of Turnus as a hector figure:
- Defends his homeland against invaders
- Fights for Lavinia and Amata
- Takes on role of protector who is too old to fight
- Nisus and euryalus – relate to Achilles and Patroclus
Young heroes, close bond of friendship/relationship and thirst for glory
- Nisus’ motivation – more about proving himself than getting a message to Aeneas
Ascanius responds in heroic terms – satisfies nisus’ need for time
- Euryalus’ capture – nisus tries to save his friend
Brave gesture but also a selfish act – chosen glory over the mission of summoning help from
Aeneas
Aeneas
Homeric hero
- Mortal but high born
- Helped and hindered by the gods
- Physically impressive when he fights and ferocious
- A leader
- Hero fighting in a foreign land – like Achilles
- Has gods of troy to protect – like hector
- Mocked for effeminate dress – like Paris
- Capable of acting with bloodlust – book 10
Post-Homeric hero
- Has already achieved fame by time epic begins
Recognises himself on the temple sculpture in Carthage
- No longer wants/needs to pursue kleos
, - Reluctant storyteller
- Defines himself in terms of obligations to the gods, his family and his people
Fighting for the glory of his people rather than himself
- Seems to supress his feelings
- Remains silent even when there is a need for words
Aeneas
- Thinks of what he owes to his heirs when he acts
- Prays to the gods to get their approval before acting and makes offerings to them after victory
- Acts in accordance with fate and not his own inclinations
- Acts for the good of the community
- Is reluctant to fight
- Shows courage but not excessive anger
- When in the grip of furor he is wild and ferocious
Characterisation of Aeneas
Aeneas as leader
- Trojans rally to him after the fall of troy
- Provides food for all his men and encourages them when they are shipwrecked
Keeps his misery to himself
- Ilioneus – says he has no equal for his piety/care for justice or in battlefield
- Takes lead in burial of Misenus in b6
Aeneas as lover
- Thoughts of dido given rather than Aeneas
- First response to mercury’s message is to hesitate and wonder
- Claims he never offered dido marriage/entered into any contract with her
- Is he a hero putting duty above affection or is a heartless and fickle lover?
Aeneas as family man
- Father son relationship important theme in Aeneid
Only time we witness them together is when Aeneas is leaving for battle – b12
- Scene modelled from b6 of Iliad with hector
- Embraces his son through his helmet – man suppressing his emotion, father who does not have
capacity for feeling, man intent on mission that he is unaware of his feelings?
- Portrays a very human character who longs for affection
Aeneas with fate
- Faltering in his approach to founding a new race
- Stands gazing in the underworld for too long
- Often waits to be prompted by gods’ visitation or a dream from his father
- Tends to react rather than take the initiative
- Avoids conflict but is a fearsome warrior on the battlefield when he fights
Role of Aeneas in Rome’s imperial destiny
- Aeneas driven by fate to reach Italy and his arrival will mark the ‘beginning of the Latin race … the
high walls of Rome’
Message reinforced by Jupiter’s speech to Venus
- Jupiter’s speech – information about key moments in Rome’s history leading up to Augustus and the
limitless power he will enjoy
- Romans will be the ‘rulers of the world’
- Aeneas bound to get to his destination because it is the will of Jupiter and fate
Concepts, values & behaviour of a Greek and roman hero
In homer the hero:
- Is intent on performing actions that will gain him a place in the repertoire of bards – earning him fame
and immortality (kleos)
- Must be mortal but high-born
- Helped/hindered by the gods
- Fights because it is an obligation to his family, ancestors and community
- Fights for his own glory
- Pursues gifts as a mark of honour (timē)
- Looks impressive
- Ferocious when fighting
- Shows emotion
- Skilled with words
- Often shown putting in armour before going into battle
Presentation of Turnus as the second Aeneas:
- Has obligations as a leader
- Burns with fury against his enemy
- Bold & brave in his fighting
- Has divine protection
- Impressive in his armour
- Has horses with more power than a regular horse
- Is proud & has a fear of shame
- Likened in similes to fierce animals
- Young
Presentation of Turnus as a hector figure:
- Defends his homeland against invaders
- Fights for Lavinia and Amata
- Takes on role of protector who is too old to fight
- Nisus and euryalus – relate to Achilles and Patroclus
Young heroes, close bond of friendship/relationship and thirst for glory
- Nisus’ motivation – more about proving himself than getting a message to Aeneas
Ascanius responds in heroic terms – satisfies nisus’ need for time
- Euryalus’ capture – nisus tries to save his friend
Brave gesture but also a selfish act – chosen glory over the mission of summoning help from
Aeneas
Aeneas
Homeric hero
- Mortal but high born
- Helped and hindered by the gods
- Physically impressive when he fights and ferocious
- A leader
- Hero fighting in a foreign land – like Achilles
- Has gods of troy to protect – like hector
- Mocked for effeminate dress – like Paris
- Capable of acting with bloodlust – book 10
Post-Homeric hero
- Has already achieved fame by time epic begins
Recognises himself on the temple sculpture in Carthage
- No longer wants/needs to pursue kleos
, - Reluctant storyteller
- Defines himself in terms of obligations to the gods, his family and his people
Fighting for the glory of his people rather than himself
- Seems to supress his feelings
- Remains silent even when there is a need for words
Aeneas
- Thinks of what he owes to his heirs when he acts
- Prays to the gods to get their approval before acting and makes offerings to them after victory
- Acts in accordance with fate and not his own inclinations
- Acts for the good of the community
- Is reluctant to fight
- Shows courage but not excessive anger
- When in the grip of furor he is wild and ferocious
Characterisation of Aeneas
Aeneas as leader
- Trojans rally to him after the fall of troy
- Provides food for all his men and encourages them when they are shipwrecked
Keeps his misery to himself
- Ilioneus – says he has no equal for his piety/care for justice or in battlefield
- Takes lead in burial of Misenus in b6
Aeneas as lover
- Thoughts of dido given rather than Aeneas
- First response to mercury’s message is to hesitate and wonder
- Claims he never offered dido marriage/entered into any contract with her
- Is he a hero putting duty above affection or is a heartless and fickle lover?
Aeneas as family man
- Father son relationship important theme in Aeneid
Only time we witness them together is when Aeneas is leaving for battle – b12
- Scene modelled from b6 of Iliad with hector
- Embraces his son through his helmet – man suppressing his emotion, father who does not have
capacity for feeling, man intent on mission that he is unaware of his feelings?
- Portrays a very human character who longs for affection
Aeneas with fate
- Faltering in his approach to founding a new race
- Stands gazing in the underworld for too long
- Often waits to be prompted by gods’ visitation or a dream from his father
- Tends to react rather than take the initiative
- Avoids conflict but is a fearsome warrior on the battlefield when he fights
Role of Aeneas in Rome’s imperial destiny
- Aeneas driven by fate to reach Italy and his arrival will mark the ‘beginning of the Latin race … the
high walls of Rome’
Message reinforced by Jupiter’s speech to Venus
- Jupiter’s speech – information about key moments in Rome’s history leading up to Augustus and the
limitless power he will enjoy
- Romans will be the ‘rulers of the world’
- Aeneas bound to get to his destination because it is the will of Jupiter and fate
