Like a sword crafted by a blacksmith, humans endure many hardships. The adversity, however, separates the strong from the weak by developing resilience in those who overcome their misfortunes. Grendel, the main character of John Gardner’s novel Grendel, struggles to maintain any relationships with the indifferent, unresponsive characters around him, and subsequently his goal of obtaining intimacy with others develops the major theme of him questioning his identity. Similarly, Aeneas, the main character of Virgil’s epic The Aeneid, attempts to re-establish his life on land, yet Juno thwarts all of his endeavors, consequently developing the central theme of Aeneas’ instability. Although Grendel and Aeneas’ respective journeys end in dramatically …show more content…
He feels “all the blows” of losing his family and being stranded at “sea”, attacked by Juno’s “storm[s]”, exacerbates his pain. Aeneas, however, uses his past experiences as motivation to establish a future, inspired in a different manner compared to Grendel (Virgil 126). The sea serves as a metaphor of Aeneas’ own life, since at sea he lacks a stable base and is always wavering. Virgil utilizes disastrous diction like “storms” both literally and figuratively to exemplify the obstacles Aeneas faces that prevent him from reaching his destiny, just like a storm delays and sometimes prevents a ship from reaching its destination. His struggle symbolizes humanity’s attempts at finding peace and prosperity and establishing a life without major insecurities involving family and work. The obstacles Juno creates in Aeneas’ life, preventing him from finding “Italy’s shores and destined fields,” develop the central of theme Aeneas’ instability (Virgil 156). Although Aeneas is “destined” to ultimately find his new home, yet Juno’s impediments keep him at sea and therefore threaten his security. The walls of Rome Aeneas hopes to build figuratively represent the foundation he hopes to build in his life compared to the dangerou, volatile sea that Juno keeps him stranded at. Ultimately, Aeneas knows the joys of having a family and consequently strives to restore his life on land, yet Juno’s constructed hindrances develop the instability he faces up until the end of his
...hey’ve done in their journey. There are clear similarities amongst all three pieces of literature in the essence of how significant storytelling is in personifying the protagonists. Gardner’s use of storytelling in Grendel relates to Homer’s The Odyssey and Virgil’s The Aeneid in a historical sense since the earlier works of literature are founded upon the use of storytelling as instilling moral values of the protagonist and what they have done to define themselves. Grendel understands his meaning of life, through beliefs of the Shaper and philosophies of the dragon, and ultimately discovers his identity.
...f. Through the infernal struggle Aeneas and the pilgrim discover the limitations of their mortal realities, and ultimately come to an awareness of their existence as transcendent, spiritual beings against shifting religious, historical, and poetical climates.
Leaves of Grass. Kebra Nagast. Popol Vuh. Daredevils of Sassoun. These titles represent some of the most respected works of their cultures. On a quest to compose a story that would become the great epic of Rome, writer Virgil created The Aeneid, a poem following the journey of Aeneas, an epic hero. In “Book II” of The Aeneid, Virgil portrays the Trojan War in such a way that makes the Trojans appear less foolish than what The Odyssey, its Greek predecessor, depicted. Virgil emphasizes the Trojans’ good character, love, and sympathy while exposing the Greeks deceitful and untrustworthy ways. “Book IV” describes Queen Dido’s inability to find love after the loss of her beloved husband. After escaping the Greek’s attack on Troy, Aeneas
Duty is an ever-prominent theme found throughout Virgil’s The Aeneid. In a close analysis of Aeneas’ journey for the rebirth of Rome, he is seen as a transfiguring character, or, to me, one that is seen to undergo significant changes to result in a better form of one’s self to carry out a duty. It is evident that Aeneas’ duty is one that transfigures the wandering and emotionally lost leader into a divine, all-knowing one who is able to find himself in the rebirth of Troy and the well being of future Romans. In order to develop the idea of Aeneas’ change as one to a divine form, I will draw upon the extreme importance of his fate, what is encompassed in such a divine leader, and attainment of Rome, the new Troy, through suffering.
“Am I to admit defeat/ Unable to keep these Trojans and their kings/ From Italy? Forbidden by the Fates, am I?” (1.50-52). Knowing the outcome doesn’t sway the decisions of Juno at all is overcome with rage. It is keen to note that rage is one of the most important themes of The Aeneid and is showed from the poem starts till it ends. Juno and Dido are the two major characters that are affected by this rage. It is Juno who allows Dido to believe that she and Aeneas are married; with hopes that Aeneas would not leave to the build the city of Rome. The intervention of the gods shows how they can easily sway the lives of their mortal men for their own personal desires. For example, when Juno incites rage on the Trojan women allowing them to burn their ships. Virgil clearly shows that aren’t no women of rationality all women are controlled by their emotions. It is clear from the start that Juno is on a man hunt to put an end to the Trojans reign; as result Aeneas becomes a subject of Juno’s rage. Virgil depicts Juno as vengeful Antagonist who tortures a pietious man,
In this essay I will compare and contrast the qualities and plights of both Aeneas and Gilgamesh. These two epic heroes share similar fates, yet are very different in personality.
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.
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.
We have read two myths of great heroes this semester, Virgil’s The Aeneid and Homer’s The Odyssey. In both of these tales we get to go along with two great heroes on their journey home and all of the troubles that they face. Although these stories tell us about two great heroes and their journey there are a lot of differences. In this paper I will compare and contrast scenes from both myths and suggest a reason that this borrowing was appropriate for what Vergil was trying to do with his version of the myth.
A comparison between Virgil's hero, Aeneas, and the Homeric heroes, Achilles and Odysseus, brings up the question concerning the relevance of the difference between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas. The differences in the poets' concerns are explained by the fact that Virgil lived many years after Homer, giving Virgil the advantage of a more developed literary and philosophical society than Homer had at his disposal. But the question remains: how are the differences between the Homeric heroes and Aeneas relevant to the epic at large? This question will be answered by first pointing out the differences between Greek and Roman society, then explaining how those differences relate to the heroes of the three epics at hand, and finally explaining how these differences allow Virgil to portray the Roman values and way of life as more structured and oriented towards a greater-good.
“I was obliged to memorize the wanderings of a hero named Aeneas, while in the meantime I failed to remember my own erratic ways. I learned to lament the death of Dido, who killed herself for love, while all the time, in the midst of these things, I was dying, separated from you, my God and my Life.
Virgil’s Aeneid, tells the story of the founding of Rome. It follows the last of the Trojan’s who escaped the fate of Troy. Troy eventually falls following Homer’s The Iliad, and Virgil continues the story of their people. The Trojans are not, however, the only similarity between the two books. Virgil employs many of the same image patterns that Homer uses in The Iliad. The symbolism of fire, shields, and gates are used in both epic poems.
The interaction between gods and mortals, is shown from the first paragraph. Virgil lets us know that Aeneas is not even at fault but Juno despises him.
Odysseus’ journey is one that features much emotional pain. Pain for being away from his home, wife and son, but in Aeneas’ journey he is a warrior, and he goes through physical pain. Unlike Odysseus, Aeneas begins his journey after the Greeks have burned his home to the ground. He does not have the pleasure of long comfortable “holdups” Odysseus has and he also has to deal with his father dying—the ultimate blow.
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