The Aeneid - Themes

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  • Created by: Bena_
  • Created on: 13-04-16 17:42
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  • Themes
    • Moral Value
      • The Aeneid
        • pietas
          • duty to the state - Aeneas takes on his destiny destined to refound Troy .
          • duty to family - Aeneas goes but for Creusa when he realises she is missing
            • He carries Anchises on his back from the city to safety.
          • duty to the gods - Aeneas ( and Anchises) literally carry their house gods, the penates, from the burning city .
      • The Iliad
        • Piety
          • A Greek hero is more focused on themself.
          • Achilles / Hector both pay respects to the Gods (Hector being more selfless as a Roman hero)
    • Fate
      • The Aeneid
        • Jupiter - prophecy about Aeneas destiny, founding a new race (book I)
        • Venus-constant intervention, trying to fulfil fate e.g. releasing Aeneas' spear in his duel, potion to heal his leg, Cupid and Dido.
        • Mercury -reminds Aeneas of his fate and makes him leave Carthage.
        • Juno - tries to delay fate e.g. Turnus' death
        • sheild of Aeneas - shows the future (in the story)
      • The Iliad
        • Thetis - tells Achilles he'll die if he kills Hector
        • knows he'll die if he goes out to face Achilles
        • Zeus - weighs the scales of fate
        • Athena - disguises herself to stop the fight
    • Heroism
      • Greek-type Hero
        • Achilles - typical Greek hero: glory (for killing Hector), honour (insulted by Agamemnon), war prize (takes back his armour from Hector's body)
        • Turnus - typical Greek hero: glory (desperate to duel with Aeneas), honour (Lavinia was meant to be his bride), war prize (takes Pallas' baldric)
      • Roman-type Hero
        • Aeneas - respects pietas. Aspects of a Greek hero: can be selfish (Carthage; Dido), shows blood-lust (after Pallas' death). His character transitions as the epic goes on.
        • Hector - respects pietas. Huge duty to Troy (dies for his state), rebukes Paris for not doing his duty. Very Pious. Loyal to his family - however the state comes first.
    • Women
      • The Aeneid
        • Dido - strong and positively presented and well-respected, until Aeneas. She neglects her city; work stops, she falls apart and commits suicide, abandoning her responsibilities
        • Anna - sympathetic character (she is devastated at her sisters death)
        • Creusa - sympathetic character. Her ghost encourages Aeneas on his journey (used to enhance aspects of him)
        • Lavinia - catalyst for war. Used as a plot device by Virgil.
        • Amata - stirs up war (women). Commits suicide when she thinks Turnus is dead
        • Camilia - strong, female warrior - killed.
      • The Iliad
    • Family
      • The Aeneid
        • Anchises & Aeneas - Aeneas carried Anchises from Troy. Anchises gives Aeneas advice (in the underworld)
        • Aeneas & Iulus - Aeneas' purpose for founding Rome is so Iulus has something to inherit.
        • Evander & Pallas - Evander sends his son to war with Aeneas so he can gain experience. He's devastated by Pallas' death.
        • Menzentius & Lausus - Lausus takes his father's place when he is injured. Mezentius comes to avenge the death of his son when Aeneas kills him.
        • Turnus & Juturna - Juturna rallies the Latins and disguises herself herself (protect him)
        • Dido & Anna - they're very close (Anna is heartbroken when Dido dies)
        • Venus & Aeneas - gets Vulcan to make him his new armour. Constantly protecting him (divine protection)
      • The Iiliad
        • Thetis & Achilles - has the armor and shield made for Achilles. Prophecies his death
        • Agamemnon & Menelaus - without these two there wouldn't be a war, or it wouldn't have involved the whole of Greece
        • Hector, Adromache, Astryanax - touching family moment (when Hector scares Astryanax). A. pleads with H. not to go, and laments him when he dies.
        • Priam & Hecube - plead with Hector not to fight. Lamentations.
          • Hector & Paris - don't get along (H thinks P is a coward)
        • Helen & Menelaus - caused the war.
        • Achilles & Patroclus - P's death brings A. back into the war. They were either cousins, lover; or both.
    • Armour
      • The Aeneid
        • Aeneas - In Troy, he and his men disguise themselves in Greek armor.
        • Nisus & Euryalus - slay Latins and steal their armor - leads to their deaths.
        • Duel between Turnus and Aeneas - Turnus' sword breaks, Aeneas' spear gets stuck in an olive tree.
      • The Iliad
        • Achilles' sheild
        • Hector's helmet - takes Achilles' armor as a war prize
        • Glaucos & Diomedes - switch armor
        • Patroclus - wearing Achilles armor (gets him killed)
        • Achilles' armor alone terrifies the Trojans
        • Duel - Hector throws spear and misses, Achilles does the same but Athena brings it back
    • Rome
      • The Aeneid is a piece of propaganda for Augustus and Rome
      • Makes a family link  - the Julius family (Augustus) are descendants of Iulus, and therefore gods.
      • Aeneas sheild refers to important events in Roman history

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Bigboyben

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hey babe x

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