OCTOBER 24/25: VIRGIL 'S AENEID: A ROMAN EPIC
READINGS (Wednesday class, October 25): Aeneid,
book 1 , pp. 1-27
(Consult the summary of the plot ; read the
introductory commentary and the notes on books 1-2 )
Summary: In this class, I will provide a brief overview of the
history and culture of the Hellenistic world and early Rome. This
will give you a context for our reading of Virgil’s Aeneid, a Roman
epic modelled upon the epics of Homer. The first book of the Aeneid
introduces the three major issues we will consider in examining the
work: Virgil’s poetic relationship to Homer and Greek culture; the
character of the Roman hero, Aeneas, and its roots in Stoic philosophy
and ethics; the historical vision of the Aeneid and its commentary on
Roman history and politics.
HISTORICAL OUTLINE
1. "HELLENISTIC" CULTURE
Be sure you understand the difference between
the terms "Hellenic" and "Hellenistic". "Hellenic" is a synonym
for "Greek", derived from the Greek name for Greece, Hellas.
"Hellenistic" refers to a specific period and culture. The
Hellenistic period (c. 323-31 B.C.) followed the conquests of the MACEDONIAN
ruler, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, in the Near East, and ended with
the Roman domination of the eastern Mediterranean, conventionally
marked by OCTAVIAN 's defeat of his rival, MARC ANTONY
, and his ally, the Egyptian queen, CLEOPATRA , in the naval
battle at ACTIUM. Hellenistic culture refers to the
culture
created by the spread of Greek culture and civilization in the Near
East. Important Hellenistic cultural centers included the city of
ALEXANDRIA , founded by Alexander the Great in Egypt and later
the site of the " MUSEUM", and the city of PERGAMUM in
Asia Minor (modern Turkey).
2. AN OUTLINE CHRONOLOGY OF THE EXPANSION OF ROME
- c. 753: traditional date for the founding of Rome by ROMULUS
AND REMUS
- c. 510: overthrow of the Tarquin (ETRUSCAN) kings of
Rome; establishment of the ROMAN REPUBLIC
- 4th century B.C.: Roman domination of Italy through military
victories, alliances and the foundation of colonies; the Roman conquest
of Italy was completed by the conquest of the Greek cities of southern
Italy and the defeat of their Greek allies (Pyrrhus of Epirus) in the
270s
- 3rd century B.C.: Roman expansion continues with the defeat of
CARTHAGE in the first two PUNIC WARS (264-41 B.C., 218-01
B.C.) and the creation of Roman provinces in Sicily and
Spain
- 146 B.C.: the defeat and destruction of Carthage after the Third
Punic War (149-46 B.C.), the establishment of the Roman province of
Africa, and the destruction of Corinth as part of the Roman subjugation
of Greece and Macedonia make the year 146 B.C. an important marker in
the growth of Roman power
3. THE END OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC: the upheavals of the first century
B.C.
- 133-121B.C.: the efforts of TIBERIUS and GAIUS
GRACCHUS to redistribute land, extend Roman citizenship and
introduce judicial reforms led to their murder
- military crises in the late second and early first centuries
B.C. led generals like MARIUS, SULLA, CRASSUS
and POMPEY to accumulate offices and assume extraordinary
political powers
- 91-89 B.C. : the SOCIAL WAR: Italian allies (socii) of
Rome revolted in an effort to obtain full Roman citizenship
- 60 B.C.: the FIRST TRIUMVIRATE: POMPEY, CRASSUS
and JULIUS CAESAR form an alliance; Crassus was killed in the
east in 53 B.C., and Caesar defeated Pompey in a civil war in 48 B.C.
- 43 B.C.: following the murder of Julius Caesar by a group of
senators in 44 B.C., MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS and OCTAVIAN
, Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted heir, formed the SECOND
TRIUMVIRATE , which lasted until Octavian’s defeat of Mark Antony
and Cleopatra at Actium in 31 B.C.
- 27 B.C. - 14 A.D.: rule of Octavian, titled AUGUSTUS,
inaugurates the period of the Roman Empire
VIRGIL’S AENEID
In class, we will look at Virgil's Aeneid from three perspectives:
- the poetry of the Aeneid: a "translation" of Homeric epic for a
Roman audience and an effort to rival or surpass Homer's poetry
- the ethical and philosophical environment of the Aeneid: the
making of a Roman or STOIC hero
- the historical and political vision of the Aeneid: the linking
of Roman history and Greek mythology to explain Rome's destiny
Be aware of the following equivalences between the Greek and Roman
gods and goddesses:
Zeus/Jupiter
Hermes/Mercury
Aphrodite/Venus
Hera/Juno
Poseidon/Neptune
Kronos/Saturn
Athene/Minerva
Ares/Mars
Artemis/Diana
Hephaistos/Vulcan
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: INTERPRETING AND
APPRECIATING THE AENEID (Book one)
-COMPARING WORKS>>> Compare the opening
lines of the Aeneid (1-18) with those of the Iliad.
-How does Virgil introduce Roman history into the first lines of the
Aeneid (1-50)? How does he link Roman history and the story of
Troy there and in Jupiter's prophecy (358-417)?
-How does Virgil introduce his hero, Aeneas?
-COMPARING WORKS>>> Compare Virgil's first
simile (200-20) with the Homeric simile.
-COMPARING WORKS>>> Find five different ways in which
Virgil uses Homeric techniques or Homeric material in book 1 of the
Aeneid.
-What does Virgil achieve by describing the scenes on the walls of the
Temple of Juno (647-697)? How does Virgil introduce Dido?
What is her relationship to the goddess, DIANA, and PENTHESILEA
, the Queen of the Amazons? (700)
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Virgil fills his poem with complex allusions to
Homer's epics. A familiarity with the Iliad and the Odyssey would
enrich a reading of the Aeneid. Allusions are important
in contemporary media as well. Consider one or two examples of
films, television programs, ads, or music videos which use allusions
to other works - whether in style or subject matter - to enhance their
impact. Relate your example to Virgil's use of allusions in the
Aeneid.
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AENEID: SUMMARY OF PLOT
AENEID, COMMENTARY
OCTOBER 30/31 (AENEID BOOKS 2-3)
SCHEDULE OF READINGS
(Monday/Wednesday)
SCHEDULE OF READINGS (Tuesday night)
RETURN TO HUM 2211