Character: Euryalus

Question 1

How is the youth and physical beauty of Euryalus portrayed?

Answer 1

Bk.9 Our initial description of Euryalus places great emphasis on his youth “ a boy with the first signs of manhood on cheeks as yet unshaven”- emphasises his youth and his potential to be a good hero (physical beauty was an admirable quality of the image of a Roman Hero)

Recognized by those around him

Bk.9, Nisus attempts to convince Euryalus against going on the night mission “you are young and your claim on life is greater than mine”- concern for safety, young hero who is not fully able to make rational decisions

Highlighted in his death:

Bk.9 Likened by Virgil to be a a plucked “scarlet flower” or “like poppies bowing their heads”
with the weight of the rain- coined from Cutulus’ love poetry- emphasis on his physical beauty and Virgils appreciation- bowing head evokes imagery of his neck drooping (pathos, visual imagery contrast with devastation of death)

Question 2

How is the reckless nature of Euryalus emphasised?

Answer 2

as a younger hero, Euryalus is less capable of making rational decisions and making sure he does not become carried away

Bk.9 The initial thought of the night mission overwhelms Euryalus with excitement blinding him to the danger in front of him “pierced to the heart with a great love of glory”- hamartia

Devastating consequences in the night mission (overcome by furror):

Bk.9 Euryalus forgets the initial intention of the mission is not to kill Volsci but to reach Aeneas- Carried away with the want for glory and forgets Nisus’ warning to keep watch rather than to kill the sleeping Volsci
“no less slaughter from- Euryalus”

Bk.9 Once he starts killing he becomes consumed by a want for glory and kills the sleeping men indiscriminately with little haste (forgets rationality) which is noticed by Nisus once he turns around “Euryalus was being carried away by bloodlust and greed”

Question 3

How is Euryalus portrayed as naive?

Answer 3

Due to his youth, he is potentially less rational and experienced than other heroes which makes him vulnerable to poor decisions

Bk.9 After having dealt death to the Rutulian camp, Euryalus loots the armour of Rhamnes and the helmet of Messapus- fatal error as the Latin cavalry spot him from down the road as the helmet reflects the moons light (consequence of taking spoils- inexperience leads to downfall)

Bk.9 The weight of the loot which Euryalus plunders makes him vulnerable and ultimately seals his fate as it is too heavy for him to move properly and “in his fright he lost his way”

Question 4

What is tragic about the lack of knowledge his mother has about the mission of Euryalus?

Answer 4

Scared for her reaction, Euryalus does not tell his mother which deprives her of knowledge of his exploits and the danger he is in (does not give her chance for a final goodbye)

Bk.9 During the council of the night mission, Euryalus discloses “she knows nothing of the danger I am entering upon” and makes Ascanius promise to look after her- concerned for his mother evokes sympathy

Bk.9 Left without a doubt the fate of Euryalus to die creates sense of unavoidable tragedy and pathos for mother “camp that would be their death”

Bk.9 Prolonged scene of his mother’s grief and realization- hears a rumour- rushes to walls- sees decapitated head of Son on a spike “did not wlak before you at your funeral”- tragedy of youth and failure to uphold funerary customs (inversion of nature- a mother should die before son)