During the rule of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, a man by the name of Publius Vergilius Maro (known as Virgil in English) wrote one of the most widely read epic poems. The poem is named the Aeneid. ... Parallels can be seen in the shield descriptions of the two classic epic poems. ... Therefore, the shield seems to be addressing the present state of the epic poem. ... By analyzing the shield scenes of the two epic poems, the Iliad and the Aeneid, many similarities as well as differences can be distinguished. ...

• Word Count: 806
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Since Virgil's epic does not go near these events in the time span the epic covers, the reader has to rely upon hearing about these important subjects through the prophecies that are references throughout the story. ... Virgil's promise of delivering an Augustan epic was clearly on his mind when he started to write The Aeneid, just as clearly as the references to Augustus were propaganda. The one thing I believe though is that Virgil did not consider these allusions critical to his poem. ... He wanted to use his epic to be read by his contemporaries and after reading it, they would...

• Word Count: 927
• Approx Pages: 4

It's true that Aeneas' wanderings in the beginning of the poem are reminiscent of the same perils that Odysseus faced on his journey home to Ithaca, such as Aeneas' encounter with the Harpies (3:245) and the Cyclopes (3:760). ... At first all of these similarities may appear to be a poorly veiled appropriation of Homer's epics, but that is far from the actual purpose of Virgil's epic. ... However, as Anchises describes "the glory that awaits the Trojan race," (6:896) it becomes clear that this poem is anything but a piracy of Homer's epic. ...

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

They are both epics, a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds. ... Epics are typically centered around the main character, or hero, as he goes on a quest or adventure. ... The plots of epics are also normally similar to each other. ... These two epics share similar characters, plots, and styles. This makes sense because epics are all written in a similar way. ...

• Word Count: 741
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

That is the reason why not many men in this poem shy away from battle and keep on fighting. A character that is depicted in the poem as being courageous is Pallas. ... Turnus shows his feelings in the poem after he slays Pallas and gives his speech. ... Virgil glorified war throughout the whole poem and felt it necessary to write about it. ... He never had to face the hardships of war and that could very well be the reason of why I feel he glorifies this epic poem of war. ...

• Word Count: 906
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

As a particularly poignant moment in the poem Vergil employs Homeric allusion for the sake of adding striking detail to the scene. ... Further to both themes is Acron's depiction as "infelix" again an epic epithet and once more it suggests that luck is a major factor in the episode. ... Other examples include the Greek accusative "paeana" perhaps picking up Achilles speech to the Greeks after the death of Hector in Iliad 22.365 a particularly apt epic reference in this instance. ... Perhaps it is just a result of the latter stages of the Vergilian epic having firmer roots or coincidenc...

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

The summary laid out by the opening of Book I has an enormous effect on the rest of the poem. ... The opening introduction allows the rest of the poem to focus on the travels and adventures of Aeneas. ... This proves to be how the rest of the poem is laid out. ... Book one is a dense collection of information that sets the framework for the rest of the poem. ... We are given the outline of the entire epic in the first forty nine lines. ...

• Word Count: 829
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School