Virgil [70-19 BCE], Aeneid, Book 6

Epic -- tragic, historical, philosophical

Father to Son -- Fate’s Plan for Rome’s Rule

[History as Destiny: Past Interpreted as Fate]


 
  Read Aeneid Book 1.

TO DO: FILL in BLANK spaces below & MARGINS of your book with main points.

 LINE NUMBERS [Of the original poem: equivalents may vary from translation to translation]

[1-235: ] [MAIN DIVSION HEAD]

1-41: Main themes of the temple sculptures Aeneas sees?

How do they relate to Aeneas’s own experiences?

42-155: Main Thrust?

83-97: Explain especially the references to Simois, Achilleus, foreign bride:

How do they relate, for example, to the story as it has unfolded thus far?

How do they relate to the general plan of the poem announced in book one?

What do they seem to forbode about the books to come?

NOTE: "reluctant bough" (210):

If the prophecy had been correct, could the bough have been reluctant?

[236-892: IN SUM -- ]

236-267: Preparatory to Descent. [268-634: General Atmosphere in this Part? ]

268-425: main encounters in this part? ]

268-336:

337-383: who is Palinurus?

384-425: Charon .. Cerberus?

[426-636: main zones in this stretch? ]

426-439:

440-475: How does Dido appear?

476-634: What news does this add about Troy?

635-636: What point is this in the journey?

[637-901: Compare the General Atmosphere in this Part with that in 268-634:

637-678: kind of place, people:

[679-892: place & main encounter -- The Father Encourages the Son]

679-751: compare this account of the souls with earlier conceptions:

[752-892: The PEP TALK: On a Census Roll Through Time]

752-823: kings

752-776: Alba Longa’s Kings (cf. Book 1)

777-787: Romulus (ca 750-31 BCE): first king of Rome)

788-807: Caesar Augustus: first head of Roman empire

(63 BCE-14 CE: ruler of Rome in Virgil’s own time)

Why place Augustus out of chronological order?

Why make Anchises ask (806-807),

"Shall we hesitate, then, to assert our valor with deeds?

Shall fear prohibit us from settling in Italy?"

What is meant by the line of Iülus?

Explain golden age in Latium:

808-823: from Second King (Numa) to last:

Monarchy degenerates into into tyranny, then

Tyranny displaced by oligarchy: 508 BCE

Name of first consul of the Republic?

What is implied by the mention of cruel axes and sacrifice?

824-845: military accomplishments of Republic --

What will Rome do to Greeks?

Who are the ‘thunderbolts’ destroying Libya (= Carthage)?

846-854: CLIMAX to PEP TALK: ROME’s UNIQUE MISSION

[Roman Culture Distinguished]

Who must meant by "Others" here?

What are the Roman arts?

How does this message fit the mission of Aeneas?

855-885: In what respect does this section come as a surprise?

893-901: This, too, may seem paradoxical, surprising, on close examination: WHY? STUDY QUESTIONS: answer the following questions on the basis of your reading:

. How do the events of this book follow from the story thus far?

. Compare Aeneas’ arrival in Italy with the earlier arrival in Africa: . advice & information received from female informant

. relevance to his mission of themes seen in works of art on the site

. Structure of the Underworld & order & meaning of the journey:

THE FIRST PART OF THE JOURNEY THE SECOND PART OF THE JOURNEY

 Scenery &

atmosphere atmosphere

Kinds of figures

encountered

Main themes,

values, attitudes

. In what ways may the contrasts between parts of the journey & between future & past also suggest a contrast between cultural values? [Fill in blanks, draw on your reading & your answers to previous questions.]

Lines 356-843 844-1203

 Male? | Female?

Greece? (Homer)

(Plato)

Rome?

. Compare the structure of Virgil’s Underworld with earlier versions of the same theme:

. Homer:

 Main Similarities

Main Differences

. Plato: Main Similarities

Main Differences