In reading the Aeneid, you are sharing in one of the great common experiences of our culture. Until fairly recently, every educated person in the Western world had read the Aeneid in Latin and could employ quotations from it. T.S. Eliot himself said, "Virgil acquires the centrality of the unique classic; he is at the centre of European civilization...Our classic, the classic of all Europe, is Virgil." So, what is a classic?
It may suffice to say that a classic has universality; i.e., that it rises above personal likes and dislikes. Popular works, even pop music, seek the acceptance of public opinion, but genuine classics test the individual reader or listener. T.R. Glover says, "In judging Virgil the reader judges himself; his comments merely tell a sentient world what he himself is fit for."
You will have to judge these endorsements and the characteristics of the classic as you experience the Aeneid. You will not learn about these by reading about them in other places. That sort of knowledge is useful supplementally, but is not valuable by itself.
Classics are also inexhaustible. As many times as I have read the Aeneid (I think this is my 23rd reading), I always find something new. Please do not anticipate that this blog or even an entire book would provide anything greater than partial understanding. As you progress through the Aeneid, you will want to refer to other books to help you interpret what has transpired. This blog aims to give you a minimal introduction to the literal meaning of the text. Without knowledge of the plain meaning, any talk about the subtleties of language, the beauty of the imagery, or the construction of the plot becomes useless.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Beginning the Aeneid
Keep it simple. The Aeneid is an expansive work of art so it is only wise, whenever possible, to simplify certain aspects of reading it. During the course of the Summer, our focus will be to accomplish a reading of the poem in English, though questions you may have about the Latin are welcome.
The Aeneid involves many characters, places and plot twists. As you read, try to keep track of whom you meet, where they are, and what they are doing. The list provided in your summer packet is a good place to start. Identify each of those characters by the three criteria above and complete the work by referencing the book and line numbers of each encounter with the item.
Keep the following in mind as you begin reading;
1) The Aeneid is both a "command" compostion and the highest effort of an inspired poet.
2) It was written at the suggestion of Augustus (the former Octavian), who saw a need for a respectable national literature to match the stature of the Homeric poems (Iliad and Odyssey)and Greek tragedy.
3) Not only did Augustus wish that literature to glorify the Empire and his new era of peace following the civil wars, but he sought a conclusive definition of the myth of his own divinity.
4) Vergil was a somewhat shy, scholarly recluse, so the distinctive feature of the Aeneid is its perfection. It is artificiality imbued with remarkable sincerity.
5) Vergil used the Iliad and Odyssey as models. (Much more on this later)
6) The most notable episode of the Aeneid (and there are many) is the Dido story, largely based on the love of Jason and Medea in the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius.
7) The cardinal theme of the Aeneid is the divinely-watched destiny of Rome.
Happy Reading!!!
The Aeneid involves many characters, places and plot twists. As you read, try to keep track of whom you meet, where they are, and what they are doing. The list provided in your summer packet is a good place to start. Identify each of those characters by the three criteria above and complete the work by referencing the book and line numbers of each encounter with the item.
Keep the following in mind as you begin reading;
1) The Aeneid is both a "command" compostion and the highest effort of an inspired poet.
2) It was written at the suggestion of Augustus (the former Octavian), who saw a need for a respectable national literature to match the stature of the Homeric poems (Iliad and Odyssey)and Greek tragedy.
3) Not only did Augustus wish that literature to glorify the Empire and his new era of peace following the civil wars, but he sought a conclusive definition of the myth of his own divinity.
4) Vergil was a somewhat shy, scholarly recluse, so the distinctive feature of the Aeneid is its perfection. It is artificiality imbued with remarkable sincerity.
5) Vergil used the Iliad and Odyssey as models. (Much more on this later)
6) The most notable episode of the Aeneid (and there are many) is the Dido story, largely based on the love of Jason and Medea in the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius.
7) The cardinal theme of the Aeneid is the divinely-watched destiny of Rome.
Happy Reading!!!
Rules of Engagement
This blog intends to help you prepare to read the Aeneid this coming year by giving you a forum to discuss all of its aspects, to ask questions, and to aid your research of the poem and its author online. Once school starts, most of the links found here will be moved to the appropriate school page. Since the school page allows a limited number of links, you may want to keep these postings around for future reference.
For these reasons, this is really our blog and I will try to incorporate much of what you ask into subsequent postings. I ask that you comment when it occurs to you, identifying yourself by your initials only at the end of your comments. Comment as frequently as you like, but when you do, try to include any questions you may have by Friday of each week so that I may have time to incorporate them into the next post. I will do my best to answer each question, but should I miss something, remind me in an e-mail.
Try to read one book of the Aeneid (there are twelve total) in English each week beginning now. I will post once a week, dealing with one or two books at a time. I will make additional posts as needed with links to online games, answers to your questions, and other items of Vergilian interests.
Rules of Engagement are simple;
1) Read each post.
2) Leave appropriate comments/Ask pertinent questions.
3) Have fun.
For these reasons, this is really our blog and I will try to incorporate much of what you ask into subsequent postings. I ask that you comment when it occurs to you, identifying yourself by your initials only at the end of your comments. Comment as frequently as you like, but when you do, try to include any questions you may have by Friday of each week so that I may have time to incorporate them into the next post. I will do my best to answer each question, but should I miss something, remind me in an e-mail.
Try to read one book of the Aeneid (there are twelve total) in English each week beginning now. I will post once a week, dealing with one or two books at a time. I will make additional posts as needed with links to online games, answers to your questions, and other items of Vergilian interests.
Rules of Engagement are simple;
1) Read each post.
2) Leave appropriate comments/Ask pertinent questions.
3) Have fun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)