Week 3: Ashley Milton

The title of the Aeneid is considered an epic, because it recounts the actions of men, gods, and heroes, dubbed as one of the greatest poems in Latin literature. The term ‘epic’, in this case, means ‘a long narrative poem celebrating the great deeds of one or more legendary heroes, in a grad ceremonious style.’ Virgil's epic is also influenced by the genre of "epyllion," or "little epic." Although Aeneid expresses hope for the future, it is also very focused on the impermanent nature of human affairs. In keeping with this emphasis the tone of the Aeneid is generally serious and dignified. When reading a text with so much power and meaning behind it, it can be difficult to read it in such a way that makes sense. One important thing to note is the way Virgil wrote. He wrote in metrical verse, specifically in the meter known as "dactylic hexameter."

“He Plummeted to sea-level and flew on/ Like a low-flying gull that skims the shallows/ And rocky coasts where fish ply close inshore./ So, like a gull between the earth and sky.” (Culler 345-348)

When I read this passage, I think of a very serene setting. The rocky coast, shallow waters, sand bars in Libya…etc. If reading this without actually listening to what is being said, you could get a wrong interpretation. By the words and phrases he uses to describe the setting, it gives the passage a very dark and eerie feel. For example, the word ‘plummeted.’ ‘Plummeted’, in my opinion, is a masculine word. Like a meteor plummeting to the earth surface creating mass destruction. Mercury of Cyllenë, who is the subject of the passage, has been given this heroic or God-like name. Skimming the shallows makes me envision a snake slithering in a murky swamp, also a dark and unpleasant portrayal. Mercury of Cyllenë is not meant to be looked at as a heavenly figure but more of someone to look up to and fear. These connections to the Aeneid represent, in a way, how the modern day reader should interpret an ancient poem. Sometimes a text must be unmasked to reveal the true meaning as shown above. When the reader understand the underlying meaning, then everything else will make sense.

 "epic" The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Chris Baldick. Oxford University Press, 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. Washington State University. 7 September 2011