Essay : The Aeneid

Compose a short essay (2-3 double spaced pages) in response to one of the prompts below.
YOU JUST NEED TO READ FROM BOOK 1,2,3,4,5,6. FOR THIS ESSAY

1. How does time function in the Aeneid? In the ordinary experience of our daily lives, time seems
   to be entirely one directional. We perceive a constant present, have some limited knowledge of
   the past, and essentially no definite knowledge of the future. How is time constructed
   differently in the Aeneid? Look closely at Book 6 especially. Also consider the knowledge of
   Time possessed by the Fates and Jupiter as well as the knowledge of history available to Virgil.
   Why do you think time is rendered this way? How does it serve Virgil’s purposes?
2. Is the Aeneid a bellicose celebration of war or a compassionate meditation on human dignity?
   How are Roman militarism and Classical Humanism present in the epic? What insights into
   Roman culture does this dialectic offer?
3. How are women presented in the Aeneid? What roles do women occupy? How are gender roles
   constructed in the text? Do you find any connections or contrasts between the women of
   Homer and those of Virgil?
4. Many critics suggest that Aeneas is an ideal Roman hero. Some even suggest that he may be an
   idealized version of Augustus himself. Explore exactly what makes him a Roman ideal and then
   to compare him to Odysseus. First, write down two lists of adjectives, one list for each Aeneas
   and Odysseus. While you can notice similarities, try especially to focus on contrasts. Here are
   some questions that might help you: What does each character value? What does he disregard?
   What mistakes has each character made? What do these mistakes suggest about their
   character? Do these mistakes continue to haunt each character? How? Why? What hopes does
   each have? What strengths? What weaknesses? What about each do you like? What about each
   character do you dislike or distrust? Finally, which character do you admire or like better? Why?
5. After you have finished this list, write a short essay that contrasts Odysseus and Aeneas. How
   and why are they different? What does this contrast suggest about the contrasting cultures of
   Classical Greece and Rome?