Venus est vexat.
Sator manet immotus;
Aeneas reget.
English translation:
Venus is worried.
The creator remains unmoved;
Aeneas will rule.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Vergil: the Aenied - Discussion Question
What aspect of the poet's characterization of the great man in verse 151 prompts us to compare him with Aeneas himself?
Vergil describes Neptune in this extended simile as "Just as often, when a riot breaks out in a huge throng, and the common people rage, and torches and stones fly, madness supplying weapons, if they see a revered man of deserved respect and duty, they are silent, and stand there listening attentively; he moves their minds with his words and soothes their hearts."
Aeneas is himself a leader. He is a survivor of Troy, which already makes him deserving of respect. Also, in the first few stanzas of the poem, he is described as being pious, and being the most worthy man; why would Juno want to destroy him? the poet ponders. Aeneas is the calm man here; he has been driven through the harsh storms of the seas, and is pelted with Juno's wrath. Yet steadfast and strong he remains. Throughout the storm, we get very little of Aeneas' own input; all we hear is of Trojans' losing against the storm. Yet it should be assumed that Aeneas is, for lack of a better term, keeping his cool. Because Vergil doesn't automatically relate his situation, it's almost as if he's in the background, making sure that everything can go as okay as it possibly can in a situation so dire. And later, the reader is not disappointed when the Trojans reach Carthage. Even while mourning for his lost companions, Aeneas takes charge and sets everything back in order.
Vergil describes Neptune in this extended simile as "Just as often, when a riot breaks out in a huge throng, and the common people rage, and torches and stones fly, madness supplying weapons, if they see a revered man of deserved respect and duty, they are silent, and stand there listening attentively; he moves their minds with his words and soothes their hearts."
Aeneas is himself a leader. He is a survivor of Troy, which already makes him deserving of respect. Also, in the first few stanzas of the poem, he is described as being pious, and being the most worthy man; why would Juno want to destroy him? the poet ponders. Aeneas is the calm man here; he has been driven through the harsh storms of the seas, and is pelted with Juno's wrath. Yet steadfast and strong he remains. Throughout the storm, we get very little of Aeneas' own input; all we hear is of Trojans' losing against the storm. Yet it should be assumed that Aeneas is, for lack of a better term, keeping his cool. Because Vergil doesn't automatically relate his situation, it's almost as if he's in the background, making sure that everything can go as okay as it possibly can in a situation so dire. And later, the reader is not disappointed when the Trojans reach Carthage. Even while mourning for his lost companions, Aeneas takes charge and sets everything back in order.
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