The Aeneid
Virgil’s Aeneid adopts Homeric material by combining both Homeric themes to create a double theme and by following a similar plot found in both the Iliad and the Odyssey. Virgil has also in a way adapted Homeric material by having Aeneas embark on a journey similar to Odysseus’ but different in its own way. As well as, through the utilization of fate and destiny that play a vital role in Aeneas’ journey. However, Virgil has the upper hand in his writing of the Aeneid because he was literate, along with the fact that he was capable of reading both Homeric poems rather than listening to them as was done in the past. This allowed Virgil to study both poems in depth and develop his character, Aeneas, in a new and profound way.
First, the Aeneid develops a double theme of warfare and man at war taken from both the Iliad and the Odyssey. The theme of the Iliad was centered on arma, which is Latin for war. Likewise, the theme of the Odyssey was based on virumque, which is Latin for man. Virgil utilized both themes by weaving them together to form the theme for his epic. Also, as a side note, Virgil, like Homer, makes his theme apparent through the invocation of the muse, which usually takes places in the early parts of Book 1 in both Virgil and Homer’s epics.
Second, the plot of the Aeneid follows a similar layout to the books of the Iliad and the Odyssey. The only difference would be that throughout the first six books of the Aeneid Aeneas first goes on a journey to Italy to found a city, just as Odysseus went on a journey back to his homeland, for the remaining Trojans and in the last six books participates in an epic battle, just as in the Iliad, to found the city of Rome once he has reached Italy. In sum, Virgil took...
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...omer’s epics successful while also making the Aeneid more personal by adding his own flare. Many had attempted to combine both styles, but it was seen as impossible to have a Roman writing that was on the same level as Homer’s epics. Homer was given credit as the one who developed the style of Greek writing and many Romans believed that in order to create a writing like his one had to have the ability to think, a way with words and a capacity for storytelling. Virgil was successful because he had the abilities mentioned and he was literate, which in turn worked in his favor. By combining the Greek style of writing with the Roman style Virgil was attempting something that no other Roman had ever succeeded at before. Therefore, without Virgil’s adaptation and adoption of Homeric qualities we most likely would not have the Aeneid or study it as closely as we do today.
"I sing of warfare and a man at war…Till he could found a city…the high walls of Rome." (Book I, 1-12) There can be no dispute that the Aeneid is an account of the history of Rome. There are several items which with Virgil links the story of Aeneas to the Rome of his time period. Probably the most obvious of these is the surplus of predictions concerning Rome’...
Aeneas also went to fight in the Trojan War. He also was a national hero. He was a great warrior. Both Odysseus and Aeneas were trying to head home.
Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid represent their cultures very well, but they express different ideas on what one should strive for in life. There are also different forces that pushed both epics to be written. The Aeneid expresses the Roman idea of pietas which means to show extreme respect for one’s ancestors. We see this in Aeneas when he is pictured caring his father away from burning Troy. He has pietas because he cared so much for his father that in fleeing from Troy he took up his father over his shoulder to save his from certain death. This is not the only major idea in the Aeneid. There is also a very political focus. The Roman were very interested in politics which comes through in the Aeneid. The Odyssey has the Greek idea of arete trapped somewhere among the many themes. Arete is a strive for perfection in both mind and body. It is a much more personal and individual idea than the Roman pietas. In the most basic seance the Aeneid and the Romans have a much more political focus and duty to the state ( republic ) than the Greeks who honor tradition , family , and arete.
When Virgil was writing the Aeneid he gleaned his theory from Greek and Roman mythology. An example of this is Charon, the...
The Odyssey and The Aeneid are both classic pieces of literature that have impacted the modern academic world. These two stories have compelling similarities, however, they also have copious differences. Both stories follow a hero after the Trojan War, one searching for the comfort of his wife and son, another determined to establish an empire and fulfill his destiny.
To begin, both the leadership qualities and flaws of Aeneas and Odysseus must be examined in order to determine who the better leader is. Virgil presents Aeneas very differently than Homer presents Odysseus. They are both certainly heroes, but Aeneas seems more accessible and a stronger leader, due to the way Virgil presents him. Virgil illustrated Aeneas as a man that had to participate in many tests and tempering’s, and from that, his heroism was seen as flawless. The same goes along with Homers’ Odysseus, yet in a different, more astounding way.
The story, The Aeneid, was a Roman poem that showed the Trojan War from the Trojan perspective rather than the Greeks perspective like it did in The Odyssey and The Iliad. However, The Aeneid was written by Virgil, but has a lot of similarities with The Odyssey because of the fact that Vigil used Homer’s work as reference. After the Trojan War, Aeneas, the protagonist, travels to Carthage, where he meets Dido. At first, Dido didn’t want to get involved with Aeneas because of an oath she had made because of her husband’s dead. However, after Aeneas tells his story, she is totally in love with him at the beginning of Book IV.
165-66)." "All have dared a monstrous sin and achieved the sin they dared. Even had I a hundred tongues, a hundred mouths and a voice of iron, I yet could not include every shape of crime or list every punishment's name (pg. 166)." Aeneas finds his father Anchises in the underworld and is told of the future of Rome and how his descendants will found it. When Aeneas saw his father in the 'Homes of Peace (pg.168)', Anchises explains the reincarnation process which is also believed today by a great number of people. All the details of their descendants and future wars confirmed what Aeneas knew all along: his true love, Italy: the future of Rome and the "glory to be, will be (pg.174)." Book VI contains the following passage: "You are the only soul who shall restore Our wounded state by waiting out the enemy. Others will cast more tenderly in bronze Their breathing figures, I can well believe, And bring more lifelike portraits out of marble; Argue more eloquently, use the pointer to trace the paths of heaven accurately And accurately foretell the rising stars. Roman, remember by your strength to rule Earth's peoples - for your arts are to be these: To pacify, to impose the rule of law, To spare the conquered , battle down the proud." Lines 1143-1154 Within this passage, Virgil uses literary allusions to the Iliad and the Odyssey by allowing Anchises to give Aeneas some history of his people as an incentive to carry out his mission as a leader.
... opposite way. It can be said that in remaining pious andgoing through all the hardships that he did, he single handedly prevented civil war. Everything that Aeneas went through was for the good of the commonwealth and was rewarding for the people. Because his view can be looked at in two ways and is rather unclear, Virgil's verdict is equivocal.
Virgil. “The Aeneid, Book IV”. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 974-95. Print.
...azards of human nature. Perhaps it was even a message intentionally hidden in the text to bring a sobering light on the perceptions of war as honorable and glorious. It might have even been a way for Virgil to express his resentment for having written a work that he knew would be viewed as propaganda. I think it is very telling that Virgil tried to burn the epic on his deathbed, signaling not only that he was not happy with it, but maybe that he regretted having written it with Aeneas cast as a hero.
Odysseus and Aeneas are very alike in some ways and very different. They are both epic heroes except that one is Greek and the other is a Trojan. Odysseus is from the Greek tale The Oddessy, which was written by the famous Greek poet Homer. His quest is to find his way back home after a long journey. Aeneas is from the roman tale The Aenied, written by Virgil a famous Roman poet. Aeneas’s mission is to find a new home for him and his family. Both these characters had many similarities and differences in their ways of fighting.
In addition, the overall theme of the poem highlighted morality, which was a definitive tenet of Greco Roman civilization. In many ways, Virgil wrote the poem as a means of lauding the moral virtues of Roman society and as a personal challenge to outdo Homer’s epic compositions, The Illiad and The Odyssey. Virgil was successful because he had incorporated many of the same tales shared in the works of Homer into one epic poem which presented a linear storyline in the books that detailed the life and times of Aeneas and the Trojans. That being said, Virgil did not stray far from the approach that many writers had used before him; his primary focus throughout the Aeneid was placed squarely upon the back of idealized Greek and Roman moral principles, which were the dedication to ones’ honor, family, and country. By no means is there anything wrong with this approach, but in many ways, the entire poem could be viewed as a “propaganda” piece; while it might have served to enlighten, educate, and create a cohesive and uplifting story for the Roman populace, the poem lacked depth and a more profound exploration of human intricacies. While Virgil’s epic poem has stood the test of time and remains one of the greatest pieces
In the book the Iliad, The Odyssey, and Works and days, there are many things that can be similar when talking about Greek heroes and the world of Greek poetry. The stories and topics are describing similar events during this time of the eighth and seventh century B.C. In the end, however, they do have some differences in some parts when describing or explaining certain situations and ideas. The world of Greek heroes is written like a story; or Epic Poetry. That is what The Iliad and The Odyssey are; Epic Poetries. They are telling a story of a great hero and their adventures. On the other hand, the more realistic Greek World that is being described in Works and days is a Didactic poem, which tells more of a moral or message to the reader.
When discussing the fate of Aeneas, a thought provoking question is posed that is commonly debated. If Aeneas is commanded by fate, does he have free will? It is important to approach this question with a solid understand of fate. There are two common sides to the debate of whether Aeneas had free will or not. One view believes Aeneas had no choice but to follow his destiny because he was commanded by fate, and prophesied to found the race that will one day build Rome. The other side states Aeneas did indeed have free will, and even though his fate was set, room is available within his fate for events to change. One can argue Aeneas makes some of his own choices, but no particular detail of his life is untouched. Destiny determines that the Trojans will found a city in Italy, but it does not stipulate how that will happen. This is where room is left for free will. After much research and considering the views of many commentators and the proof they showed, the answer can simply be found by going back to the text of The Aeneid.