The Aeneid – an EPIC poem

1. The Aeneid – an EPIC poem Definition Why Books I,II,IV and VI? The division of the Aeneid into two parts Synopsis of each book

2. Quiz • What city is on the Tiber River? • Pergama was also known as? • How many books does the poem have overall? • Explain the optimistic point of view when reading the Aeneid. • Using your own knowledge give a definition of what an epic poem is.

3. Achievement objective • Today we will be discussing what an epic poem is and the structure of the poem. We will be looking at why books I,II, IV and VI are important. This is all background information which will help us to have a greater understanding of the text as a whole.

4. Definition of an epic poem • In short, it is a long narrative poem telling of a hero’s deeds. • The poem contains certain conventions: • Initially the poet states the theme (an epic theme): “I pray for inspiration, to tell how it all begun… in her indignation she forced a man… to tread that long path of adventure, and to face so many trials” (Bk I, lines 1-4) • A muse is invoked which helps them with their task. Its presence allows the poet to ask big questions: “Say, Muse, what outrage to her power the cause, Or angered why, the Queen of heaven constrained A man, so marked for goodness, still to ply The round of peril, bear the brunt of toil: In heavenly breasts do such fierce passions dwell?” (Bk I, lines 7-11)

5. Poem conventions • The poem starts in the middle (medias res), this is a critical point: “Aloof from Latium; and for many a year They roamed, fate driven, through all the circling seas: So vast the toil to found the Roman race. Scarce out of sight of the Sicilian land To seaward they were sailing cheerily, Tilting the salt foam with each brazen beak, When Juno, nursing in her bosom’s depth The undying wound, thus with her own soul spake” (BkI, lines 31-38) • Main characters are introduced: “meanwhile of ocean made one roaring mass, And a storm launched, and all his water-floods Wrung from their lowest deeps, was Neptune ware,” (BkI, lines 123-125)

6. Poem conventions • Language features are used: “The wrestling winds and roaring hurricanes” (BkI, line 53). The winds are being kept in Aeolus’ cave. • Long speeches by the main characters: Venus bespake “ O thou who swayest the tides Of men and gods with sovereign power eterne, And scar’st them with thy bolt…” (BkI, lines 230-232). Venus pleading to her father Zeus to help her son Aeneas. FIND EXAMPLES FROM YOUR OWN TEXT OF EACH CONVENTION.

7. An epic poem cont. • Virgil modelled the structure of the Aeneid on the Iliad and the Odyssey (Homer). • Virgil’s epic incorporates important elements. These are: war, a hero with a long and difficult journey and the incorporation of other heroic warriors. • The Aeneid differs from Homer’s epics – Homeric poems repeat various elements whilst Virgil’s poem demonstrates his command over the language. • Similarities between the two: the hero and the setting is on a grand scale.

8. QUESTION OF THE DAY • In the Shakespeare play, who killed Macbeth? • Macduff

9. Why books I, ii, iv and vi? • These books contain more of the action, they describe important events, such as the death of Dido (Bk IV).

10. A closer look • Read Brief synopsis of the prescribed books and then create a cartoon strip or to demonstrate the outline of each book OR create a flow chart for each book ORbullet point the important parts of each book.

11. The division of the Aeneid into two parts • The first books of each part invoke the muses: • “Say Muse what outrage to her power the cause…” (Bk I, line 7).Discussing what caused Juno’s anger. • “Now aid me, Erato; what kings had sway…” (Bk VII, line 37). The narrator is asking Erato to help describe Latium.