In reference to the Aeneid I believe it is absolutely possible for later works to be just as substantial as earlier works. The Aeneid is not a mere plagiarism of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. ... The latter half of the Aeneid resembles the Iliad as war, spurred on by Juno, breaks out between the Trojans and the Latins in book VII and Turnus summons his warriors to defend their home (7:562) as Paris did at Troy. ... This is evidenced in book VI of the Aeneid, which superficially seems like a complete imitation of book XI of the Odyssey. ... This new insight is what makes Virgil's Aenei...

• Word Count: 707
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Question Does the Aeneid provide a damning indictment of war? Response In a typically 'Homeric fashion', Virgil depicts war in all its splendour and all its folly in equal measure. The Latin wars that Virgil describes bring fearsome heroes together in search of glory and the upholding of f...

• Word Count: 2231
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

This passage sees the entrance of Mezentius to battle, at the promptings of Jupiter, and the replacement of Turnus whose fate will be determined another day. In general terms, I think it is interesting to recognize the idea of fate in this passage as it is shows its face directly in line 740, as Mezentius about to slay Orodes puts his faith in fate and his destiny is in the hands of the "Father of the Gods and the King of men", intriguing and somewhat ironic as Vergil condemns Mezentius in 7.648 as a "contemptor divum". This fateful passage truly illustrates Vergil's use of Mezentius as a...

• Word Count: 1002
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate