Question: Analyze a literary device–most likely an image or metaphor–or series of devices you find in Plato, Sappho, or Catullus.

In poem 7, Catullus expresses his worship and adoration for Lesbian. Inviting readers to figure out the number of kisses he needs to kiss her, he tells us to “match them to every grain of Libyan sand in silphium-rich Cyrene.” From this vivid imagery we can readily visualize his passion for her, because he is comparing number of kisses to the innumerable sand. In poem 42, Catullus uses metaphor to humiliate himself and set a stage for his vicious talk against his treacherous girlfriend: “this vile slut seems under the impression I’m a walking joke.” He tries to rally people to go after her and demand back his writing tablets. First, he urges them to “demand in chorus: ‘Rotten slut, give back….'” Next, he urges then to change tune: “pure chaste maid, give back…” He uses paradox to submit to infertility of asking back the writing tablets, and to stress her brazenness.

What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?
Prophecies and fate are the plot of The Aeneid. The defeat of Troy by the Greeks was just another step to in the Trojans fulfilling their destiny. It was prophecy that the Trojans were to become the Romans so Troy had to be destroyed so this destiny can be achieved and Aeneas spared in order for him to lead this journey. The gods, seeing what was to come, played their hands according to their approval or disdain for it. Through the tribulations and the enthusiasm, all events get the Trojan closer to realizing their destiny.

Aeneas is described as a hero who is dedicated to his country and people, and stays loyal to his responsibilities. He heroically sacrifices his happiness and his love to Dido to the sake of his duties before gods and his people. He accepts responsibility of bringing about his preassigned fate. Even though he is deeply in love with Dido, he leaves her, against his free will. Moreover, Virgil describes Aeneas as a faithful to Dido, whereas in comparison to Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus is described as a wife cheater. Aeneas is also a hero in terms of being good son to his father as he loves his father and greatly respects while he was alive and even after his death. He proposes sacrificial offerings in respect to the memory of his father after one year of his death. Another aspect of Aeneas heroism is being generous and merciful to his people and enemies as well.
However, there is one reason I cannot treat him as a hero. Aeneas is a brave and fearless warrior, but he never accomplishes any task totally by himself. During all his journeys his goddess mother Venus and other gods help him out by either giving advice’s or fixing the problems he has. For example, Venus makes an effort to get Dido to love him, and pleads Neptune to help to get Aeneas safely to Italy. During the war, Venus helps Aeneas to get new weapons and armor, and even at the final battle with Turnus, Venus helps Aeneas to win by weakening his rival.

The story of the Aeneid is not only similar to the Odyssey but also to many people in our history who have been been renowned hero’s, but have been known as villains by others. Aeneas in many ways reminds me of Columbus, he travels a brave journey with his men across the sea to stumble upon America, and forces native americans out. Aeneas on the other hand was chosen to be the founder of Rome, and had many obstacles but in his way but ultimately did birth the city of Rome. Aeneas had many problems with the gods who gave him a hard time had at sea while battling other conflicts. So although he may have abused his powers in some ways, I still view him as a hero.

It is obvious that Virgil despises war and sees it as self destructive to all involved in it.

“Wars at an end, harsh centuries then will soften,
Ancient Fides and Vesta, Quirinus
With Brother Remus, will be lawgivers,
And grim with iron frames, the Gates of War
Will then be shut: inside, unholy Furor,
Squatting on cruel weapons, hands enchained
Behind him by a hundred links of bronze,
Will grind his teeth and howl with bloodied mouth.”

In this excerpt, Virgil implies that the gods and goddesses of order and faith will only return after the beast called War is restrained. The roots of civilization will crumble when war begins.

‘We’ll take their shields and put on their insignia!
Trickery, bravery: who asks, in war?
The enemy will arm us.’

In this excerpt, Coroebus plans a strategy to deceive the enemy by dressing like them and implies that truth is one of the first things to be eliminated in warfare. All players of war are so focused on destroying their foes that they may lose common sense. This is also called the fog of war.

I believe the ending is awkward to us because of the modern stories we read. In more modern stories the characters are able to defeat, escape their fate. Virgil was very clear from the beginning of the Fate of the Trojan’s, the city they would conquer, and of Aeneas. Yes I agree the ending was awkward for these reasons but I still enjoyed how Vigil finished his epic poem. I especially enjoyed how Juno did not want to accept Fate the whole story even though Juno would not win. Juno did everything to make Aeneas’ and his men’s journey harder but she finally surrenders to Fate and agrees to leave Aeneas alone with one request, to preserve the name and language. I found this interesting and very satisfying because Juno was a main conflict throughout the story and it almost seemed as if Juno would bother Aeneas and create hardships for him forever. It is as if she has surrendered her own war with herself and Aeneas. I also found the killing of Turnus to be a plot twist of the last book. It seems as if Turnus will be defeated, as fate goes, but he will come out as a survivor and still a hero for his people for his fight. Aeneas almost allows this but I believe this was a fate all along, Aeneas kills Turnus at the last minute.

I believe Aeneas is a hero in a few ways. For one, as a leader Aeneas acts with regard to prophecy. Even though he possesses emotional impulses that conflict with his fated duties, he has a certain ability to accept his destined path. He also has tremendous compassion for the sufferings of others in conjunction with a single-minded devotion to his duty. His ability to deliver speeches along the journey to keep his men’s spirits up is no small feat either. A great leader family man, to me Aeneas is an unquestioned hero.

There is a conflict within Aeneas. His mind is constantly feuding with his duties and obligations versus what he really longs to do. Aeneas sacrifices his own happiness and well-being at the expense of his obligations. For instance, he sacrificed Dido for what he felt was more important, his work. He shows dedication and commitment in his mission to seek refuge in Italy. However, he feels pain for all that he has sacrificed, for example, his love life, to complete his mission.

Although this is a very controversial question, Aeneas is indeed a hero throughout the great work. Aeneas may have done some things that portray him like a wimp, but his overall leadership and ability to fulfill his duties assigned by the gods make him a hero. It may sound dumb to consider Aeneas a hero when he ran away at a very bad time, but that strategic move was in turn the correct thing to do. Also, it is important to remember that the journey he had from Troy to Italy is not an easy one, and not everything is going to go as expected. The event that really displays his great leadership and qualities of a hero was in Book X when Aeneas violently took down the Latin troops. During this event he killed numerous prominent Latin leaders, the strongest one being Mezentius. This event was really a turning point in his journey, and really shows how he is a hero.

Dido is the woman who was infatuated with Aeneas, and Aeneas is the man for whom her heart burned with flaming passion, allowing her to break the force of vow that bound her with her dead husband. Dido justifies her sexual relationship with Aeneas in a cave as marriage. The overdriving love for Aeneas distracts her from other tasks that require her attention: construction of Carthage has halted and maintenance of defense against enemies has been neglected. When Aeneas realizes he could not stay with her any longer and must leave immediately,  she is distraught. She tries to convince him to stay awhile longer, that she might be accustomed to his departure, but to no avail. His dogged determination to fulfill his duty gravely torments her. I think she is naive and too obsessed with this love affair between her and Aeneas. A man has a mission, she mustn’t stand in his way or make too much of a commotion, such as cursing him when his fleet is in sight, ready to sail, or committing suicide to end all of it. She is strongly possessive of the man she loves, and when that man is gone she throws a tantrum that inflicts harm upon herself and others.