Virgil: The Aeneid

by K. W. Gransden , Prepared for publication by S. J. Harrison

• ISBN13: 9780521539807
• ISBN10: 0521539803
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-10
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The Aeneid is a landmark of literary narrative and poetic sensibility. This guide gives a full account of the historical setting and significance of Virgil's epic, and discusses the poet's use of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, as well as the most celebrated episodes in the poem, including the tragedy of Dido and Aeneas' visit to the underworld. The volume examines Virgil's psychological and philosophical insights, and explains the poem's status as the central classic of European culture. The final chapter considers the Aeneid's influence on later writers including Dante and the Romantics. The guide to further reading has been updated and will prove to be an invaluable resource to students coming to The Aeneid for the first time.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part I. Background: 1. Virgil in the light of his time

2. Life of Virgil

3. The Eclogues

4. The Georgics

5. Metrical unity and continuity

Part II. Virgil and Homer: 6. 'Arms and the man'

7. The Aeneas legend

8. The 'Odyssean' Aeneid

9. The 'Iliadic' Aeneid

Part III. Reading The Aeneid: 10. The text

11. The story

12. Structure

13. Expression and sensibility

14. Narrative technique

15. The world of the dead

16. Father-figures

17. Juno

18. War and heroism

19. Fate and free will

20. Conclusions

Part IV. The After-Life of the Aeneid: 21. Influences and reputation

22. Virgil and Dante

23. Virgil and renaissance epic

24. Virgil and romanticism

Principal characters of the poem

Guide to Further Reading.