Theme: Roman Values

Question 1

What is Virgil’s nature of heroism based of off but how does Virgil make it uniquely Roman?

Answer 1

The Homeric model

1. Heroes may be driven to commit actions which gain him fame and immortality
2. Should fight for glory but for his ancestors, family community
3. Is helped by the gods
4. Is skilled in battle

The Changes of Virgil’s heroism

1. A hero should be driven by a rational understanding rather than a thumos (intense passion)
2. A hero should not be purely drive to achieve a glorious death to earn him fame (self sacrifice is not the sole aim)

Question 2

How can we see certain heroes being driven by shame?

Answer 2

Bk.10 Turnus rages and feels deep shame for being carted of the battlefield “the horror of it=- i have left them all to die”- genuine upset and frustrated for the fate of his men

This instance is a positive example of Roman quality

There can be negative examples:

Bk. 12 – About Turnus “In that one heart of his there seethed a bitter shame, a grief shot through with madness, love driven on by fury, and a consciousness of his own courage”

Question 3

What are some examples of Aeneas giving into furror?

Answer 3

Bk.2 provides us with a glimpse of Aeneas as a far more traditional Greek hero (start of his journey) fall of Troy “frenzy and anger drove me on.. it seemed a noble thing to die in arms” which drives him into combat rather than escaping to ensure the survival of the Trojan race
(although by the end of the bk he has embraced his pietas, this is a pivotal moment demonstrating the fundamental struggle between emotion and reason)

Bk. 10 the death of Pallas blinds Aeneas with an anger motivated by the guilt he feels for letting down Evander whom he made a promise with to keep his son safe (died at hands of Turnus) “burning with rage”

i) takes eight soldiers to sacrifice on his funerary pyre

ii) Ignores the supplication of Magus and stabs him through the throat as he pleas with him

iii) Similie comparing Aeneas to Aegaeon- hundred arms and hundred hands, fire flaming and fifty swords- fecorricty and relentlessness (overcome with furror)

ii+iiii= Aeneas is not only overcome with furror but overlooks his duty to uphold clementia and mercy

Question 4

What is the context of Augustus’ advocation for Clementia and the failure to always uphold it?

Answer 4

Augustus advocated for clemencia

He boasts in his res gestae – “as victor I spared the lives of all citizens who asked for mercy.”
(In reality, Suetonias describes him as having “showed no clemency, sending Brutus’ head to Rome to
be flung at the feet of Caesar’s statue, and ranting at the noblest of his prisoners”)

Perhaps through his depiction of Aeneas giving in to his furor. Virgil is pointing out that no leader can gain and maintain power without compromising his ideals.

Question 5

What are some examples of Turnus overcome with furror?

Answer 5

=Consistently displays that he is purely driven by an irrational desire for glory (Homeric rather than Roman)

Bk. 7 Turnus is motivated to war by Alecto as a “lust for battle raged within him..above all, anger”

Bk.9 Turnus rages at the Trojan camp for retreating into their walls rather than fighting he is described as blazing with anger- Greek hero

Bk.9 When Turnus breaches into the Trojan camp, rather than opening the door to let in the rest of the Rutulians, he persues personal glory and aims to kill as many Trojans as possible “mad lust” and only retreats when it becomes clear he is overwhelmed by Trojans- emotion, not ratoinal thought

Question 6

What are some key examples of Aeneas pietas?

Answer 6

Common epithet for Aeneas is pious Aeneas

Proem- introduced to Aeneas a “man famous for his piety”

Bk.2 Despite having been overcomed by furror and motivated to die in battle rather than ensure the safety of the Trojan race, Aeneas recognizes

1) “it is not right for me to touch them” until he has washed and makes sure his father takes the sacraments instead (respects religious rules even in battle)

2) Worries deeply for the safety of his father and son “anxious.. for the man i carried and for the child at my side” (cautious, rational and Roman hero)

3) leads the “pitiable crowd” of Trojan exiles

Bk.4 He is largely motivated to leave Carthage as he explains to Dido he would be robbing Ascanius of his future

Bk.11 Aeneas dedicates the armour Mezentius to the gods (positive dedication not illiadic pride) in contrast to Turnus in Bk.10 who loots from the body of Pallas and takes his baldric for his own with little thought of piety

Question 7

What are some examples of pity/ clementia?

Answer 7

Bk.6 Anchises shouts at the future Romans to “show clemency”- underlines the key Roman values of clementia which he deems to be central to part of the Roman mission

Aeneas struggles with this:

Bk.10 Aeneas struggles with clementia and showing pity as he is overcome with anger- kills Magus as he is mid way through his supplication
(at most vulnerable- subversive to Roman perception as a nation that showed pity to its enemies)

Question 8

What are some examples of characters driven by love for their family?
(ei Husbands, wives, children or parents)

Answer 8

Aeneas displays an intense and genuine love for his family throughout the Aenead

Bk.2 Initial leave: holds Ascanius’ hand and puts his father on his back with his wife following behind (when split up goes to intense lengths to find her- searches the city shouting, phantom appears attempt to hug her “three times”)

Bk.2 Upon his final leave, He ensures the safety of his father at the end of the book whom he lifts onto his back, knowing he is too physically weak to support himself

Bk.4 Aeneas is motivated to leave Carthage for concern that he is robbing Astynax of his future city

Bk.6 Aeneas expressess genuine excitement and love for his father when he sees him in the underworld- tries to hug him and hold his hand (physical contact- points towards strong affection)

Question 9

What are some examples of hospitality?

Answer 9

Throughout Aeneas’ journey, beyond a few monsters and divine intervention everyone who meets Aeneas recognises him and
extends him hospitality and kindness.

Examples genuine hospitatlity:

Bk.8 Evander offers significant gifts of hospitality; feeds him and seats him on the grass before touring him around Pallantium and offering Aeneas to stay in his humble straw house

Examples of Hospitality as extension of the divine:

Bk.1 After the anxiety of Venus for the safety of the Trojans, Jupiter promises to send Mercury to ensure that the Carthagineans will show proper hospitality to the Trojans