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A stylistic critique of Aeneid 10


241). Connington also points out the similarity between lines 734-735 and Iliad 7.243 indeed Mezentius" victim Orodes has forecast the imminent fatality of his slayer just as Hector did to Achilles and indeed is met with the same abrupt dismissal, and again 736 with Iliad 16. 862-863 where the failing Patroclus has been addressing Hector; the question is why does Vergil choose to use so many Homeric references in this passage, apart from firmly establishing the epic nature of this scene the answer appears unclear. Perhaps it is just a result of the latter stages of the Vergilian epic having firmer roots or coincidences in subject matter with the battle scenes of the Iliad. Further to this is Mezentius" depiction as an honorable warrior choosing not to slay Orodes with trickery ("haud furto"), which almost immediately brings to mind the cunning Odysseus; this is truly an image full of pathos, as we know he must soon meet his end.
             Moving more directly to the linguistic features of the passage Vergil chooses to draw on word play in lines 734-735 firstly with "viro vir" with a monosyllabic line ending reflecting the archaic mood and further enhancing the formal nature, this word play is seen again with "furto fortibus" as Vergil juxtaposes strength and secrecy emboldening the epic and heroic nature of the passage. Lines 742 and 743 also have the irregular monosyllabic line end and in the case of line 743 there is also a clear association in "divum pater atque hominum rex" with line 10.2 and indeed 1.65, taken initially from Ennius. The uses of these monosyllabic endings are particularly prominent as the relatively unusual device is deployed three times in just ten lines. Furthermore Vergil portrays the ruthless quality of this passage linguistically with a succession of harsh thoughts for example "dura" and "ferreus" in line 745, for what in reality can be harder than iron. However Vergil chooses to close the passage with a melancholy reference to death in "aeternam noctem" in line 746 perhaps suggesting the futility of mortals contending against cruel fate; these lines are again used in 12.


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