The Aeneid Study Guide
Together with comedies of Aristophanes and tragedies written by Sophocles, “The Aeneid” by Virgil is a pearl of Antique literature worth discovering. The poem was written during a period of Virgil being in the inner circle of Augustus and thus serves as a mirror into the morals and political climate of his reign.
The novel is about a glorious travel of Aeneas, the hero of Troy battle, who would then become the founder of Rome and Roman Empire. It is a reverse view on the “Odyssey” and the “Iliad” written by Homer. It begins with a trip from destroyed Troy to far away land around Italy, then it follows with narratives about wars on the Italian land. But it also has its own unique features, such as Cassandra, who predicted the fall of Troy.
The plot begins in a middle of Aeneas journey. This time he is a son of goddess Venus and is somewhere between Corsica and Africa. A storm sets in and the ship is taken to the land of Carthage. The queen of the city, Dido, hosts a big dinner to honor the guests and it is in this setting that the main character tells his full story. Once the stories are over the reader witnesses lots of fierce battles together with the characters.
The plot of “The Aeneid” is legendary and is repeated in many modern variations. It seems that it will never lose its relevance. Its cultural heritage and influence are immense: it allows us to look into the past and interpret the actions of the heroes from a point of view of law, morality, and virtue.
The author spent long 11 years working on the text and still didn't dare to publish it. Because of a fatal illness, he didn't finish editing it and wanted the manuscript to be destroyed. So you can feel fortunate to have the opportunity to read this great text – enjoy every line of it!
Author: Arnold Campbell
New Essays
Heroism and Bereavement Vergil’s Aeneid is an epic that illustrates the determination that displays heroism amongst an individual, and furthermore, how this perception of heroism is shifted throughout the play. An example of this modification in Vergil’s perception of heroism was presented in Book...
The Aeneid and the Glory of Rome Between 43 and 32 BC Rome was split up through the second triumvirate upon the death of Caesar. The triumvirate was a way to split the military and political power because the senate feared that they would once again fall under a dictatorship, which is the ultimate...
From the dawning of modern human thought, humans have questioned the nature of life and its passing. One of the most fundamental questions to arise from this train of thought is the ideas of fate and duty. We humans desire to know whether the path of our lives is preordained and unalterable or if...
The gods in The Aeneid are as much a part of the story as any of the mortal characters whom they try to manipulate. The God's in the epic have very distinct characteristics, and their alliances and conflicts within Aeneas' story do much to drive the actions of the mortals, and thus ultimately the...