The first scene of actual narrative in the Aeneid, which kicks in after the extensive proem ( Aen. They are meant as illustrations of what a close reading of Virgil’s poetry can unearth and as encouragement to subject the verses from Aeneid 4 to similar scrutiny (or, as the case may be, interpretative overkill). To give you some idea of the returns that sustained attention to Virgil’s poetry at the formal level (metre, verse design, lexical choices, syntax) can yield, I here offer discussions of two passages, one from Book 1, the other from Book 6. Just Do It! (As Nike would put it.) There is a lot to be noticed and enjoyed. All you need to do is to take a good hard look at the text (which includes scanning the hexameters) and to ponder how the design reinforces theme. This is curious: unlike other aspects of Virgil’s poetry, the appreciation of formal artistry requires comparatively little prior knowledge it is more a matter of sensibility and imagination.
Much of Virgil’s sophistication in interrelating content and form eludes the casual reader, and even scholars in their commentaries frequently do little more than scratch the surface of what can be discovered. Handouts on basic grammar and vocabulary are available at the Latin Handout Page.Virgil’s genius manifests itself not least (some would argue: above all) in his supreme mastery of his chosen metre and, especially, in how he uses metre and formal aspects of his poetry more generally to enhance his thematic concerns. Bennett's New Latin Grammar or, better, Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar. A list of representative articles provided below, as well a some guidelines for the Critique.Ī systematic grammar of Latin is recommended. You may choose any relevant article, either dealing with Book II or with the Aeneid (or Virgil) in general. In addition, students are required to have read two scholarly articles during the semester and to provide a critique of them (with the second and third exam). Additional information will be provided as the exams approach. The exams will be partly open book (explanation of grammatical principles), partly translation, partly scansion. There will be 3 exams, covering lines 1-267 (Sinon and the Horse) lines 268-558 (The Fall of Troy) and lines 559-804 (The Flight from Troy). An online translation maybe found here: Aeneid II - English (the Dryden edition at the Perseus site) The Loeb edition (found often at Borders) has a facing English translation, which may be useful for those tackling Vergil for the first time. Remember that English translations are not grammatically faithful to the original. The Vergil Homepage has an outstanding on-line grammatical commentary, word by word, which can be very helpful.ĭo not hestitate to make use of a modern edition in order to understand the grammar of the Latin. It's 58 pages, but well worth printing out. I have posted a copy of Book II of Knapp's edition (text and commentary). Older, but still very useful for literary commentary and grammar, is Knapp's Aeneid. Also useful (but only for the first six books) is Pharr's Aeneid. Barbara Weiden Boyd's Vergil's Aeneid (2004) is also useful but does not contain the entire text. An excellent recent edition is that of Randall T. The version at The Latin Library has been formatted for printing and can be used to annotate vocabulary and grammar. You may use any text of the Aeneid available to you. The work required is considerable, the rewards commensurate. Our goal is to read with ease the entirety of Book II and to articulate a basic understanding of Vergil's technique (including scansion and rhetorical devices). Students are expected to have prepared the assigned text well enough to read it with minimal difficulty and discuss grammatical constructions. We will move slowly at first, more quickly as the semester progresses. As with all authors, the style and vocabulary become more easily absorbed as the work progresses. Vergil's style is syntactically uncomplicated, but does present some complication for the student advancing from intermediate Latin. Complete familiarity with basic forms (declension patterns, pronouns, verb tenses, infinitives, and participles) is required.
The student is expected to have mastered a basic second year vocabulary and to be prepared to absorb a considerable quantity of new vocabulary. We will read Book II of Vergil's AENEID, focusing closely on the grammar, vocabulary, and style of the text, with significant comment on the historical, cultural, and mythological background.
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