JUNIOR CERTIFICATE NOTES ON THE AENEID 1. The Character of Aeneas: Pius - above all Aeneas is dutiful.

always worships them. He does what him even when it is difficult. He family and he is very protective of He is loyal to the gods and fate and the gods demand of loves his homeland and his his comrades.

Best examples of his pietas - When he leaves Troy with the images of the Trojan gods and his father on his back, his little son by the hand; when he feeds his men and encourages them after the storm, even when he is despairing at heart; when he leaves Dido once Mercury tells him he must; when he chooses to visit the Underworld to visit his dead father. Brave - According to his men he is not only just and dutiful but renowned for his courage in battle (they say this to Dido when they think he is lost). He does not worry about his own life but always thinks of others. Best examples of his bravery - He does not heed Hector's instruction to run away, but instead he rushes out to fight the Greeks with his friends. He says he hoped to die in battle and deserved to for all those he killed. He refuses to leave Troy unless his father comes with him and is prepared to die until the gods make their plan clear. He is scared but undaunted in entering the fearful realm of the dead. Loving - He has a sensitive side and is deeply loyal. Best examples of his loyalty - This is most evident in his deep love for Anchises, his father for whom he risks his life and even goes to the Underworld; He is very upset and guilty at the loss of his wife Creusa in the fall of Troy; He will not relax at Dido's banquet until his son, Ascanius is brought along; He grieves at the thought that some of his men are lost in the storm at sea; He weeps at the thought of the dead when he sees scenes from the Trojan War depicted on the Temple of Hera at Carthage; He is miserable at the sad sight of Dido in the Underworld; Human - Aeneas has his faults and is not a perfect hero, he does not always do the right thing. He has human weaknesses. Best examples of his faults - He is terrified in the storm in Book 1 and wishes he had died in Troy; He loses his temper when he thinks of killing Helen and when Venus speaks to him in disguise in Carthage; He loses his wife through panicking in

escape from the city; He handles the situation badly with Dido, instead of telling her he is about to leave, he puts this off and ends up hurting her badly; He seems very cold in speaking to her before he leaves.

P.2 Themes in the Aeneid: 1.FATE. This is the most important force in the whole poem. It is fate which decrees that the greatest race ever to live will be founded by the Trojans after their city falls. Aeneas is an instrument of fate. For the Roman race to come into being, Aeneas and his followers must reach Latium on the shores of the Tiber. This means a lot of personal sacrifice for Aeneas. He loses his wife, he cannot stay with Dido and he goes through terrible trials all to fulfill the demands of fate. It is up to Jupiter to see that fate is carried through. Juno tries to make sure that it does not because she knows that part of destiny is that the Roman race will overthrow her own favourite city, Carthage. (Good examples to use for this theme are: Jupiter's speech to Venus in Book 1; Venus showing Aeneas the gods destroying Troy in Book 1; The signs for them to leave the city; Mercury's visit to Aeneas in Book 4; Anchises' speech to Aeneas about the future greatness of Rome in Book 6). 2. GREATNESS OF ROME: The Aeneid is a work of propaganda to an extent. Virgil wanted to praise the greatness of the Roman race and to promote the reign of Caesar Augustus, the first Roman emperor. There had just been three civil wars in the city and morale was low. He wanted to make the Romans feel good about being Roman and to restore confidence and optimism. (Good examples to use for this theme are: Jupiter's speech to Venus in Book 1; Anchises' speech to Aeneas in Book 6 and the pageant of future Romans). 3. ROLE OF THE GODS: The main gods involved are Venus, Aeneas's mother; Juno, his enemy; and Jupiter, king of the gods. Juno is full of hatred and delights in causing chaos. She is bitter and resentful about the Trojans (for three reasons) and wants to prevent Rome

bein established. Venus is Aeneas's mother and protector. She guides him and argues his case to Jupiter. She helps him out but keeps her distance and is quite aloof from him. She can be manipulative and cruel to get her way. Jupiter is king of the gods and tries to be fair. He decides on important matters. (Best examples to use for this theme: Juno's visit to Aeolus to cause a storm, her arranged "marriage" between Dido and Aeneas; Venus's help during the fall of Troy; her shrouding him in mist at Carthage; her approach to Jupiter, angry at Aeneas's troubles; the spell she casts on Dido to fall in love with Aeneas; Jupiter's speech to Venus; his sending of Mercury down to Aeneas to tell him to leave Africa.

p.3 4. LIFE AFTER DEATH Virgil has a great description of the Underworld, very atmospheric. You can imagine the sounds, smells and ghastly sights there. There are various areas for different categories of people there, some who died too young, some who committed suicide, some who are undergoing retrial for crimes. The two main areas are Tartarus for the damned to be punished for eternity (N.B. Virgil lists those who are being punished) and the Elysian Fields (or Elysium) for the heroic and the good which is like paradise. There the people are in a beautiful place where peace reigns (though their weapons, horses and chariots are always ready). This is probably Virgil's ideal for the Roman people. Most important of all is Aeneas's glimpse into the future, a pageant of the great Romans who will be born.