Essay - Virgil's Epic Poem 'The Aeneid' Is Often Described as the...

Virgil's epic poem "The Aeneid" is often described as the poet's response to Homer's epics "***** Iliad," and "The Odyssey" in that it details ***** Trojan War and its aftermath from the Roman perspective. It ***** a Roman claim to great ***** far-reaching origins, and because of this apparently patriotic purpose, many classical scholars have attributed the poem's inspiration as Virgil's attempt to praise the emperor Augustus. However, to ********** ***** simple purpose to such a complex text is somewhat problematic, as this paper will make clear.

In *****cribing reasons for its author's motivation, a literary analysis of "The Aeneid" presents ********** with some problems not present in a similar analysis ***** Homer's inspiring works. Although the actual status of Homer as either a poet or ***** collective name ***** several poets is uncertain, Homer's works formed the b*****is of virtually all of Greek classical literature. "The Iliad" and "The *****" became the corners*****nes of Greek culture, ********** all ********** could refer to as a common source of moral values, of rhetoric, and of mythological history. *****, ***** the work ***** a single individu*****l at a fixed ********** relatively later point in time and culture, "***** Aeneid" does not have a ***** quality of assembled stories, but ***** a work of more clear design than its Greek predecessors do.

This sense of linear clarity gives a certain amount ***** credibility to the thesis ***** "The Aeneid" was written in praise of the *****. After all, unlike the heroes of either "The Odyssey" or "The Iliad," the hero of ***** ***** epic seems destined for success. He will not be separated from his family ***** twenty years or die like Achilles surely will after "***** Iliad" comes to a close. Aeneas is destined to found Rome, ***** even when he appears most reluctant to do so, in the various places he attempts to call home along his way, events always propel him forward. This sense of manifest dest*****y ***** in keeping with a poem that was designed ***** ***** a leader. Aeneas was said to be the ancestor of Augustus, and the fact that he was destined to ***** Rome gives the Emperor's reign through this work of ***** a religious ***** a historical validity ***** supporters of the republic believed it lacked in ***** *****.

However, there is a subversive quality in the attractiveness of some of these alternate *****s that are provided for Aeneas over the course of the narrative. It is interesting that, in comparison to Homer's **********, individuals from *****eign lands o*****r than Greece or Troy have a humanity and a depth of character ***** present in, f***** **********, the queen ***** the Amazons, who figures briefly in Homer's epic "The Iliad." In contrast, ***** Queen of Carthage, Di*****, is one ***** the most complex female characters in ancient literature. ***** she goes mad after Aeneas is forced to abandon her, her ex*****tence and her *****ingness to listen frame the s*****ry ***** its inception. She both subverts