JMJ Marist Brothers

Notre Dame of Marbel University

College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Ancient Rome had a vibrant and accomplished literary culture, born from the established traditions of
Ancient Greece (Ricketts, 2018); the Romans took Greek models and made them their own. Consequently,
the Roman Empire and its predecessor, the Roman Republic, produced an abundance of celebrated
literature; poetry, comedies, dramas, histories, and philosophical tracts that have made it on the list of
classics.
In this lesson, you will learn about Ancient Roman literature and its great books.

At the end of this unit, the students should have been able to:
a. thoughtfully read Aeneid by Virgil through a close reading activity
b. critically analyze Aeneid using the appropriate critical lens through a writing activity
c. creatively encapsulate the major themes and concepts in Aeneid through a book
blurb

Fact-Check: Fun Facts about Rome

1. The mascot of Rome is a she-wolf that cared for brothers Romulus and Remus, the mythological
founders of Rome.
2. The first ever shopping mall was built in Rome between 107 and 110 AD by Emperor Trajan. It sold
a wide variety of goods and grocery items.
3. Rome’s first university, La Sapienza, established in 1303 AD, is the largest in Europe and the
second largest in the world.
4. Rome has a museum dedicated entirely to pasta.
5. St Peter’s basilica inside Vatican City is the largest church ever constructed.

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Ancient Readings: Roman Literature

Much of Roman literature was influenced and inspired by Greek literature. This indebtedness to Greece was
even recognized by the writers themselves. Historian Nigel Rodgers wrote that Greek authors originated
many philosophical and political concepts that influenced such Romans as Cicero, Seneca, Boethius,
Catullus, and Virgil. He added that Rome could not and did not deny that Greece was more refined and
superior in both intellectual and cultural pursuits from technology and philosophy to poetry and sculpture
(Wasson, 2017).
The history of Roman literature begins around the 3rd century BC. It reached its "Golden Age" (c. 70 BCE –
14 CE) during the rule of Augustus and the early part of the Roman Empire. The Golden Age of Roman
poetry produced such memorable writers as Virgil, Horace, Catullus, Propertius, Tibullus, and Ovid. Virgil,
Horace, and the exiled Ovid, created a classical style of writing comparable to many of the great Greek
authors (Wasson, 2017).
Representative Text: Aeneid by Virgil (Epic Poem)
Aeneid by the Roman poet Virgil is an epic poem in 12 books that tells the story of the foundation of Rome
from the ashes of Troy. It was probably written down in Rome from 30-19 BC during the period of the Emperor
Augustus.
The poem is named after the Trojan hero Aeneas, the son of Venus (Aphrodite in Greek mythology) and
Anchises, a Trojan aristocrat. Aeneas leads the survivors from the sack of Troy through the Mediterranean,
and ultimately to the site of (future) Rome.
Virgil died in 19 B.C. and very nearly took the Aeneid with him to the grave. Apparently unsatisfied with the
manuscript, he dictated in his will that it be destroyed, but Augustus, to the immense benefit of subsequent
generations of scholars and literary enthusiasts, turned it over to Virgil's friends Tucca and Varius. The two
men gave the manuscript a light polish, adding nothing to the text and adjusting only obvious errors. The
Aeneid, Virgil's masterpiece and one of the most influential epic poems in history, accorded him postmortem
fame even more considerable than that which he had enjoyed during his lifetime. The epic poem is Virgil's
last and most notable work where he strove to exemplify what he positioned as Rome’s divine destiny. Written
in 12 books, the poem is still regarded as a literary masterpiece today (Biography of Virgil, n.d.).
Capsule Summary of the 12 Books
• Book 1: Aeneas encounters a storm and is cast ashore at Carthage.
• Book 2: The hero tells Dido of his escape from Troy.
• Book 3: The wanderings of Aeneas: Harpies, meeting with Helenus, and the death of Anchises.
• Book 4: Dido's passion for Aeneas, at Jupiter's command, Aeneas departs, and Dido kills herself.
• Book 5: Aeneas reaches Sicily, and the funeral games for Anchises.

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

• Book 6: Aeneas with the Sibyl at Cumae where he meets Anchises in the Underworld.
• Book 7: Aeneas lands in Latium. Latinus promises Lavinia. Juno and Allecto stir up war.
• Book 8: Aeneas secures the help of Evander and the Etruscans, the Story of Hercules and Cacus,
and the Armor from Vulcan.
• Book 9: Turnus attacks the Trojan camp. The camp is hard pressed.
• Book 10: Council of gods, Turnus kills Pallas, Juno saves Turnus from raging Aeneas and Aeneas
kills Mezentius.
• Book 11: Burial of Pallas, Diomedes' refusal, the Trojans attack and the death of Camilla.
• Book 12: Single combat arranged, but treachery provokes a general engagement. Trojans attack the
city, and in a single combat, Aeneas kills Turnus.

About the Author

Virgil, also spelled Vergil, born Publius Vergilius Maro, (October 15, 70 BCE,-September 21, 19 BCE), is a
Roman poet, best known for his national epic, the Aeneid (from c. 30 BCE; unfinished at his death).
Virgil was regarded by the Romans as their greatest poet, an estimation that subsequent generations have
upheld. His fame rests chiefly upon the Aeneid, which tells the story of Rome’s legendary founder and
proclaims the Roman mission to civilize the world under divine guidance. His reputation as a poet endures
not only for the music and diction of his verse and for his skill in constructing an intricate work on the grand
scale but also because he embodied in his poetry aspects of experience and behavior of permanent
significance (William, 2020).
Moreover, Vergil was one of the few Roman poets that remained popular and greatly admired throughout the
Christian Middle Ages, because one of his Eclogues (Virgil's first published poems) was interpreted as a
prophecy of the coming of Christ. Because of this, he was considered something of a seer and a mediator
between pagan Antiquity and Christianity. In this function, he is famously featured in Dante's The Divine
Comedy, where he guides Dante through Hell and Purgatory.
Virgil is believed to have been homosexual, as he created the tragic gay lovers Nisus and Euryalus in the
Aeneid. He never married and was said to have loved a man named Alexander whom he writes of as Alexis
in the Eclogues which has numerous references to homosexuality. He also had a close relationship with
Caius Cornelius Gallus who appears in The Georgics and for whom he writes a loving eulogy for in The
Eclogues.
Basic Background to Virgil’s Aeneid
Watch the video on the basic background to Virgil’s Aeneid using the link below. The video discusses the
basic historical, mythological, and literary background of the great epic poem which are vital for its
appreciation and understanding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53Ey43CrOb0

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Characters of the Aeneid by Virgil (Epic Poem)

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Mortal Characters:
Aeneas. The protagonist of the Aeneid. He is a fearsome warrior and a leader able to motivate his men in
the face of adversity, but also a man capable of great compassion and sorrow. His destiny is to found the
Roman race in Italy and he subordinates all other concerns to this mission. The Aeneid is about his journey
from Troy to Italy, which enables him to fulfill his fate.
Dido. The queen of Carthage, a city in northern Africa, in what is now Libya, and lover of Aeneas.
Turnus. The ruler of the Rutulians in Italy. Turnus is Aeneas’s major antagonist among mortals. He is
Lavinia’s leading suitor until Aeneas arrives.
Ascanius. Aeneas’s young son by his first wife, Creusa. Ascanius (also called Iulus) is most important as a
symbol of Aeneas’s destiny—his future founding of the Roman race
Anchises. Aeneas’s father, and a symbol of Aeneas’s Trojan heritage.
Creusa. Aeneas’s wife at Troy, and the mother of Ascanius
Sinon. The Greek youth who pretends to have been left behind at the end of the Trojan War
Latinus. The king of the Latins, the people of what is now central Italy, around the Tiber River. Latinus allows
Aeneas into his kingdom and encourages him to become a suitor of Lavinia, his daughter, causing resentment
and eventually war among his subjects. He respects the gods and fate, but does not hold strict command
over his people.
Lavinia. Latinus’s daughter. The question of who will marry Lavinia— Turnus or Aeneas—becomes key to
future relations between the Latins and the Trojans and therefore the Aeneid’s entire historical scheme.
Amata. Queen of Laurentum (a region of Latium, in Italy) and wife of Latinus. Amata opposes the marriage
of Lavinia, her daughter, to Aeneas and remains loyal throughout to Turnus, Lavinia’s original suitor.
Evander. King of Pallanteum (a region of Arcadia, in Italy) and father of Pallas.
Pallas. Son of Evander, whom Evander entrusts to Aeneas’s care and tutelage.
Drancës. A Latin leader who desires an end to the Trojan-Latin struggle.
Camilla. The leader of the Volscians, a race of warrior maidens. Camilla is perhaps the only strong mortal
female character in the epic.
Juturna. Turnus’s sister
Achates. A Trojan and a personal friend of Aeneas.

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Gods and Goddesses

Romans created their counterparts of many of the Greek gods. They adopted most of the functions and
characteristics, though usually having also some Roman flavor to their divinity. Below are the Roman gods
who turn up in Aeneid.
Jupiter ~ Zeus
Juno ~ Hera
Neptune ~ Poseidon
Venus ~ Aphrodite (Aeneas is son of Venus and Anchises)
Diana ~ Artemis
Mars ~ Ares
Mercury ~ Hermes
Minerva ~ Athena (also called "Pallas" in both Greece and Rome)
Vulcan ~ Hephaestus
Apollo is still Apollo, but often (as also in Homer) called "Phoebus"
Also, two heroes have important changes of name:
Ulysses (Ulixes) ~ Odysseus
Hercules ~ Heracle
Synopsis of the Aeneid by Virgil
Michael McGoodwin (1999)

Aeneid begins after the fall of Troy. The Trojan fleet carrying the surviving warriors is being battered by a
storm in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. The storm has been sent by Juno, queen of the gods. She
holds a grudge against the Trojans and their leader, Aeneas, over past injustices done to her by Trojans and
because in the future, the descendants of Aeneas will destroy her favorite city, Carthage. Just as it seems
the Trojans will be destroyed, the sea god Neptune guides their ships to shore. They discover they are near
the city of Carthage, ruled by Queen Dido, who welcomes them warmly. The Trojans have been traveling
since Troy was destroyed, trying to find a new home. Worried that Aeneas, her son, will have no place to
rest, the goddess Venus makes Dido fall passionately in love with him.

Aeneas Tells of His Feats

Aeneas tells Dido the story of their travels so far, beginning with the destruction of Troy. He describes
how the Trojans were manipulated into bringing a giant horse left by the Greeks into their city. It was

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

filled with Greek soldiers, who sneaked out in the night and let in the Greek army. Aeneas fought
through the streets but could not save the city. Venus sent him back home to save his family before
the fall of the city. He got his father and son safely out of Troy, but his wife disappeared as they fled
the city. When he returned to look for her, he found only her ghost, who told him to seek a new queen
in Italy.

Aeneas and the other survivors from Troy built their fleet and then sailed to neighboring Thrace and
tried to settle there. However, a terrible omen of future treachery sent them back to sea. They
stopped at Delos, an island sacred to the god Apollo, where Aeneas was given a prophecy to settle
in his ancestor's land. Thinking of the wrong ancestor, they tried to settle on Crete, but a plague
drove them back to sea. As they sailed on, encountering monsters and old friends, the prophecy was
clarified—their new home would be in Italy. Unfortunately, Aeneas's father, Anchises, died before
they reached it. Aeneas buried him in Sicily, and the Trojans set sail again, this time getting waylaid
by Juno's storm.

A Tragic Love Affair Ends as New Adventures Begin

Dido is impressed by Aeneas and his feats, and succumbs to her feelings for him. Hoping it will keep
Aeneas out of Italy and prevent his fate, Juno maneuvers Dido into having sex with Aeneas.
However, it is not an official marriage, and the winged monster Rumor flies to tell people in other
towns about their union. Noticing Aeneas is getting too comfortable, Jupiter sends his messenger
Mercury to remind Aeneas of his fate and duty. Dido is terribly distraught to learn he is leaving and
foresees her death. Aeneas is regretful, but nothing can delay him or change his mind. Dido climbs
on her funeral pyre, where her dead body will burn, and fatally stabs herself with his sword as he
sails away.

Fighting unfavorable winds, the Trojan fleet stops again in Sicily, just in time to celebrate the first
anniversary of Anchises's death. Aeneas and his people make sacrifices and feast before the games
of speed and skill. Trojans and Sicilians distinguish themselves, while others are embarrassed.
Aeneas richly rewards both winners and other notable competitors. Meanwhile, Juno incites the
women in the fleet, who are tired of traveling, to burn the ships. Jupiter puts the fires out before the
ships are destroyed, but it shakes Aeneas's confidence. The ghost of his father appears, telling him
to sail to Italy and visit him in the underworld.

Aeneas's first stop in Italy is Cumae, where the Sibyl delivers prophesies to Aeneas and where the
door to the underworld lies. The Sibyl foretells a terrible war before Aeneas can make his home in
Italy. She directs Aeneas to the golden bough he must find to enter the underworld and then guides
him into its depths. They cross the river Acheron and the marshes of the Styx, where the ferryman
Charon waits for the dead, meeting many spirits. Aeneas sees Dido and tries to apologize, but she
refuses to speak to him. He finds his father in the Elysian Fields, and Anchises shows him many of
his Roman descendants who will build the Roman Empire. They include Romulus, Julius Caesar,
and Augustus Caesar.

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

The Trojans finally find the Tiber River, where they are meant to settle. Aeneas sends an envoy to
make peace with the king of Latium. Following a prophecy, King Latinus offers his daughter, Lavinia,
in marriage. But before the deal can be made, Juno sends the Fury of Rage to turn both Latinus's
queen and Turnus, king of a neighboring city and one of Lavinia's suitors, against Aeneas. Between
the three of them, they rouse Italy to war with the Trojans.

More Warfare
Turnus gathers allies, and Aeneas needs to find allies of his own to fight with him. The god of the
Tiber River tells Aeneas to go up the river to Pallanteum, which often fights against Latium. There,
King Evander tells Aeneas of another potential ally, the Etruscans. They have overthrown their cruel
king and are gathered to attack Turnus, with whom the former king has taken refuge. However, a
prophecy says their leader cannot be from Italy. Evander sends horsemen and his son, Pallas, with
Aeneas to meet the Etruscans. Wanting to ensure the safety of her son in battle, Venus asks her
husband, Vulcan, the god of fire, to make Aeneas weapons and armor. He creates a great shield
that shows the future glory of Rome.

Turnus's army attacks the Trojans left behind when Aeneas went to Pallanteum, a group that includes
Aeneas's son, Ascanius. They retreat safely within their fort, so Turnus instead tries to burn their
ships. However, Jupiter turns them into sea nymphs, and they swim away. The Trojan comrades
Nisus and Euryalus make a daring attempt to get through the enemy camp surrounding them and
summon Aeneas back, but a lust for plunder betrays them to their tragic death. When Turnus attacks
the fort itself, a few of the Trojans open the gates to better fight the enemy. The gates are closed
again, but Turnus is already inside. He kills many Trojans before he is driven out.

Aeneas sails back with the Etruscan fleet, and a great battle begins. Aeneas and Turnus are
effectively invincible against anyone except each other. Pallas, commanding the cavalry from
Pallanteum, fights bravely and catches Turnus's attention. Pallas attacks first, but Turnus's attack is
deadlier, and Pallas dies with a spear in his chest. Fatefully, Turnus takes Pallas's sword belt to wear
as a trophy. Aeneas, enraged by news of Pallas's death, finally frees the Trojan fort. Fearing
Aeneas's strength, Juno whisks Turnus away from the battlefield. The cruel Etruscan king Mezentius
is still fighting, though. Aeneas wounds him with a spear throw, but his son, Lausus, protects him so
he can get away. Unfortunately, that costs the noble Lausus his life. Mezentius returns to avenge
him and is also killed by Aeneas.

Aeneas sends Pallas's body home with a great procession. When an envoy from Latium arrives, he
suggests he and Turnus fight in single combat to decide the war. In Latium, King Latinus and Turnus
learn they won't be joined by a powerful ally, and Turnus reluctantly agrees to single combat.
However, before it can be arranged, part of Aeneas's army approaches the city. While Turnus
unsuccessfully tries to trap Aeneas and the other half of his army, the warrior princess Camilla
defends the city. Camilla is as deadly as Turnus or Aeneas, but she gets distracted, allowing an

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Etruscan soldier to get a spear through her defenses. Camilla's patron goddess Diana ensures that
vengeance is taken on her killer, but the defense of Latium is broken.

Settling Things One-on-One, with the Gods' Help

Turnus agrees to single combat with Aeneas. Latinus asks him to consider another bride, but Turnus
is fatalistically determined to win Lavinia or die. On the morning of the duel, Juno convinces Turnus's
sister, Juturna, to save her brother by provoking the armies to fight again. When Aeneas tries to stop
the escalating hostilities, he is struck by an arrow, but Venus helps heal him. Juturna disguises
herself as Turnus's charioteer and keeps her brother away from Aeneas. When Aeneas attacks the
city, Turnus finally returns for the duel. Turnus is no match for Aeneas assisted by the gods.
Wounded and humbled, he asks for mercy. Aeneas is about to grant it when he sees Turnus is
wearing Pallas's sword belt. In a blaze of fury, Aeneas stabs Turnus through the heart.

Note: Access this link for the complete copy of the epic poem:
http://faculty.sgc.edu/rkelley/The%20Aeneid.pdf

Discussion Points:
1. In the epic poem, how do the wills of various gods affect the destiny of Rome?
2. In what ways do the gods in the poem resemble human beings?
3. What are Aeneas's character flaws? Support your answers with evidences from the text.
4. What major theme from the poem is still evident in today’s context? Justify.
5. Juxtapose the role of fate in Aeneid with that in Oedipus Rex.

References:
Biography of Virgil. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2020 from https://www.gradesaver.com/author/virgil

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 JMJ Marist Brothers
Notre Dame of Marbel University
College of Arts and Sciences
LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato

Creator / Virgil. (n.d.) Retrieved December 18, 2020 from

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/Virgil

Jaffe, R. (2016). The Aeneid Plot Summary. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Aeneid/plot-

summary/

Ricketts, C. (2018). 5 key works of Roman literature. Retrieved from https://www.historyhit.com/key-works-

of-roman-literature/

The Five “S” of Blurb Writing—5 Awesome Tips. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2020 from

https://www.editage.com/info/book-editing-services/articles/the-five-S-of-blurb-writing-check-these-
5-awesome_tips.html

Wasson, D. (2017). Roman Literature. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Literature/

William, R. (2020). Virgil Roman poet. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Virgil

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