Comparing and Contrasting the Epics of Homer and Virgil's Aeneid

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Comparing and Contrasting the Epics of Homer and Virgil's Aeneid

Books I and II of Aeneid are an account of Virgil's adventures narrated by him. He includes the actions of the gods in his point of view. The tone of the epic is tragic and sympathetic. Books I-IV is Aeneas wanderings. "In the first half of the epic, Aeneas tells the story of the siege of Troy and his escape, causing Dido to love him. Venus and Juno contrive to isolate Dido and Aeneas in a cave during a hunting trip, and there the two lovers consummate their affair. Aeneas leaves Carthage for Italy at Mercury's prodding, causing the heartbroken Dido to kill herself. "(spark notes) Aeneid is considered a secondary epic more concerned more with duty than his own happiness. There is a simile in Book I of Aeneas as a hunter of deer and in Book IV where he is a figurative hunter of Dido. There are many recurring words in the Aeneid. There are also no repetitions as with Homer.

The are many parallels in the epics of Homer and Virgil. The description of the storm in the Aeneid reminded me of the Odyssey. Aeneas watches as the storm approaches and throws his ship off course. Poseidon, the god of storms at sea, throws Odysseus ship off course many times. Both Aeneid and Odyssey make reference to their mothers. There are also various disguises in both epics.

"Book 1

Aeneas and his Trojans are seven years into their journey home from the Trojan War to Italy when Juno, queen of the gods and arch-enemy of the Trojans, has Aeolus, god of the winds, blow up a violent storm which drives their ships off course. Aeneas, with some of the Trojan fleet, lands in North Africa Aeneas is a nearly broken man, but he pulls himself together and encourages his people.

The scen...

... middle of paper ...

...e ongoing construction of Carthage comes to a halt. Juno and Venus arrange for Dido and Aeneas to have to shelter together overnight in a storm-bound cave. Jupiter sends Mercury, the messenger of the god, to remind Aeneas of his duty to travel on to Italy. Aeneas is miserable, but accepts that he must follow the will of the gods. Dido begs him not to leave her, and ultimately commits suicide as the Trojans set sail, cursing them with her last breath and vowing her people to eternal war with those of Aeneas." (enotes)

Sources Cited and Consulted

Lawall, Sarah The Norton Anthology World Masterpieces Seventh Edition Volume 1 W.W. Norton and Company, Inc. Copyright 1984

Mandelbaum, Allen The Aeneid of Virgil, Bantam Books Publishing,Copyright 1971

http://www.enotes.com/aeneid/4131 (c)2000-2004 eNotes.com LLC

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/aeneid/facts.html

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