ENG-2205 Assignment 5: Literatures of the Roman Empire and Christian

Europe

Virgil
What is the genre of Virgil’s Aeneid? What are the similarities and differences
between this work and its antecedent counterparts? Who is the protagonist of
this work? Summarize his life and adventures in a paragraph of about 50 words.

Virgil's Aeneid belongs to the genre of epic poetry. It shares similarities with its antecedent
counterparts, like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, by:
 Featuring a hero on a grand journey filled with hardship and adventure.
 Employing mythological elements and the supernatural.
 Utilizing a grand, elevated style of language.
However, the Aeneid differs by emphasizing the founding of Rome as a central theme, with
Aeneas destined to become the ancestor of the Roman people.
The protagonist is Aeneas, a Trojan warrior, flees the burning city after its defeat by the
Greeks. Carrying his aged father and the remnants of his people, he embarks on a sea voyage
guided by his goddess mother, Venus. He faces storms, battles a monstrous six-headed sea
creature, and falls in love with Queen Dido, only to be divinely compelled to leave. Finally
reaching Italy, he fulfills his destiny by defeating a rival king and laying the foundation for
the future Roman civilization.

Ovid and his Metamorphoses

“The Creation”
1. Summarize the process of the creation of the world in book 1 (“The
Creation”) of Ovid’s Metamorphoses by putting the things created in order. You
should pay attention to the paragraphs of the main text in accordance with the
numbers in the right side, and summarize the story based on that order.

In Book 1 ("The Creation") of

Ovid's Metamorphoses, the
process of the creation of
the world unfolds in the
following order:
- Chaos: The poem starts out with
a description of Chaos, a
shapeless
nothingness that existed before
the universe was created.
- Earth and Heaven: The deities
Gaia and Uranus represent Earth
and Heaven
as they emerge from Chaos.
- Seas and Celestial Bodies: Seas
begin to form, and then celestial
bodies like
the sun, moon, and stars are
created.
- Plants and Animals: Plants,
trees, and flowers are all
examples of the
vegetation that the Earth creates.
- Humanity: The gods decide to
produce a creature with the
capacity to rule the
Earth. Prometheus creates people
out of clay with the aid of his
brother
Epimetheus. Humanity is created
when the goddess Minerva gives
them life.
In Book 1 ("The Creation") of
Ovid's Metamorphoses, the
process of the creation of
the world unfolds in the
following order:
- Chaos: The poem starts out with
a description of Chaos, a
shapeless
nothingness that existed before
the universe was created.
- Earth and Heaven: The deities
Gaia and Uranus represent Earth
and Heaven
as they emerge from Chaos.
- Seas and Celestial Bodies: Seas
begin to form, and then celestial
bodies like
the sun, moon, and stars are
created.
- Plants and Animals: Plants,
trees, and flowers are all
examples of the
vegetation that the Earth creates.
- Humanity: The gods decide to
produce a creature with the
capacity to rule the
Earth. Prometheus creates people
out of clay with the aid of his
brother
Epimetheus. Humanity is created
when the goddess Minerva gives
them life.
Ovid's epic poem, Metamorphoses, opens in Book 1 with the birth of our world.
Here's the creation story in a nutshell:
First, there's just formless Chaos - pure nothingness. From this, Earth (Gaia) and
Sky (Uranus) rise. Seas take shape, followed by the sun, moon, and sparkling
stars. Earth then sprouts vibrant plants and trees. Finally, the gods decide it's
time for rulers. Prometheus molds humans from clay, with Epimetheus' help,
and the goddess Minerva breathes life into them, making humanity the final
touch.

“Apollo and Daphne”,

2. In the story of “Apollo and Daphne”, how does Apollo fall in love with
Daphne? What is her attitude to men in general? How does she respond to
Apollo when he tries to come to her?

Cupid's mischievous arrow strikes Apollo, igniting a fiery passion for the
beautiful nymph Daphne. However, Daphne cherishes her freedom and has no
interest in love, especially from Apollo. Despite his advances and declarations
of love, she remains unmoved. Determined to escape his grasp and preserve her
independence, Daphne undergoes a dramatic transformation, turning into a tree.

3. With what images does the author compare Apollo’s desire and falling in
love with Daphne?
- Fire: The author likens Apollo's passion for Daphne to a raging fire that
consumes him. It represents the deep emotion and longing he has for her.
- Hunting: Daphne is the prey in Apollo's pursuit of her, and their relationship is
likened to a hunt where he is the hunter. This picture demonstrates how
persistent and committed Apollo was in trying to win Daphne's love
- The Wind: In comparing Apollo's quick moves to the wind as he pursues
Daphne, the author. By highlighting his excitement and urgency, it illustrate
show quickly and nimbly Apollo pursues his love interest.
- Water: Daphne and Apollo's love is compared as an uncontrollable flood or
torrent of water. His obsession has overwhelmed him, and this image captures
the enormous and uncontrollable nature of his feelings
4. What does Daphne call upon her father’s help for when Apollo chases her?
How does her body change when he almost touches her? What does he tell her
when seeing that change?
He tells Daphne that despite the fact that she has changed, he still loves her. As
are minder of his unfulfilled love for Daphne, Apollo acknowledges the loss of
his sweetheart and swears that the Laurel tree will always be linked to him and
his achievements

The Bible: The New Testament Gospels

1. In what situation was Jesus born? What were the shepherds asked to do with
that baby and what did they do afterwards?
Because there was no room in the inn, Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a simple
environment—more specifically, in a stable or a manger. While Mary and
Joseph Were on their way to Bethlehem for the census, Jesus was born. After
Jesus was born, an angel appeared to a group of shepherds who were tending
their flocks in the nearby fields. The angel announced the birth of the Savior
and told the shepherds that they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling
clothes and lying in a manger. The shepherds were given specific instructions to
go and see the newborn baby. The shepherds quickly traveled to Bethlehem in
search of the newborn Jesus. He was there, laying in a manger, just as the angel
had said. The shepherds praised and thanked God for the coming of the Messiah
as they were overwhelmed by this astounding sight and the significance of the
occasion
2. Summarize in a paragraph of about 70-100 words what Jesus taught his
disciples in “The Sermon on the Mount”.
Jesus taught his disciples in a meaningful way. He focused on teaching children
the values of the Kingdom of God, emphasizing humility, compassion, and
righteousness. Jesus urged his followers to pray earnestly, love their enemies,
and work for peace. He talked on the value of developing a pure heart and
avoiding judgment. Jesus advised his disciples to put their faith in God's supply
and give priority to spiritual goods over temporal possessions. He underlined
the value of honest worship, emphasized the golden rule of treating people the
way you want to be treated, and issued a forewarning against false prophets. In
the end, Jesus offered a paradigm-shifting picture of a life lived in accordance
with God's will and kingdom principles
3. In what situation did Jesus get crucified and how did he get resurrected?
During the Roman Empire's rule, Jesus was crucified at Jerusalem. He was
detained, put on trial, and given a crucifixion death sentence. On a hill called
Golgotha, also called Calvary, outside the city walls, the crucifixion took place.
After being crucified, Jesus' body was laid in a tomb and covered with a huge
stone. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, often known as Easter Sunday.
The tomb was empty when Mary Magdalene and other women went to see it,
according to the New Testament sources. Then, Jesus manifested to his
followers and others, proving that he has defeated death and was now alive.
Jesus' resurrection represents the promise of eternal life and is a major tenet of
the Christian faith
Augustine and his Confessions
1. Write down the steps the author goes through in the progress of growing up
in his childhood. What is the role of God in each of them?
1. Childhood: Augustine claims that his formative years were devoid of any
consciousness or knowledge of God. Though indirectly, he accepts that God
was with him even then, guiding and forming his life.2. Education and
Learning: As Augustine gets older and more educated, he learns more about
God and His place in the universe. The author acknowledges the role that God
played in his quest for knowledge and the moral advice that was given to him
by numerous people throughout his life.3. Moral Development and Sin:
Augustine admits to having a propensity for sinful actions in his teens and
youth. God serves as a moral compass at this point, convicting Augustine of his
sins and nagging him to ask for pardon and redemption.4. Conversion and the
Experience of Conversion: Augustine's conversion to Christianity was the
turning point in his life. As Augustine is driven to accept Christianity through
God's love and intervening power, God plays a crucial role in this phase. Deep
encounters with God's presence and a significant change in his heart are
hallmarks of his conversion experience.5. Seeking God's Will and Purpose:
Following his conversion, Augustine commits himself to discovering and
following God's will. He makes an effort to live in line with God's teachings and
commands and wants to understand the meaning of life
Writing

Where is the literature review and where is the thesis presented in the attached
article “Structure and Intention in the Metamorphoses” by Robert Coleman?

Literature Review:
The passage starts by discussing the Callimachean influence on Latin poets.
Most, including the writer of the Bucolics and Georgics, favored shorter, refined
works. While Virgil's Aeneid incorporates details that would please
Callimachus, it ultimately deviates from the movement's core principles. The
question then arises: Does Ovid's "perpetuum carmen" (continuous poem)
represent a similar departure?
Thesis Statement:
The Metamorphoses, though undeniably lengthy, isn't an epic poem in the
traditional sense. Its focus on transformation (noua ... mutatas ... formas corpora
- "new ... changed ... forms of bodies") differs from epics like the Aeneid that
celebrate heroic deeds ("res gestae") and human ideals. It also lacks the grand,
didactic style of works like Lucretius' "De Rerum Natura." This distinction
becomes clear when comparing the Metamorphoses to these established forms.
The poem unfolds through a series of individual stories ("exempla") rather than
a unified hero's journey, as seen in episodic epics like sections of the Odyssey.