Poem of Virgil "Aeneid": a summary of the chapters

The legendary poem "Aeneid" is included in the compulsory school curriculum for good reason. It is so rich in images, mythological elements and historical events that it can be called a real encyclopedia of the ancient world. In addition, the ancient Roman poet Virgil in the poem "Aeneid" wrote not only about wanderings and battles. Part of the work is devoted to sincere and all-consuming love, which will not leave readers indifferent.

About the poet

At the end of the last century in the city of Sousse (Modern Italy), a mosaic was accidentally unearthed, thanks to which we can see the image of Virgil. The poet was depicted there dressed in a white toga, and next to him were the muse of history and tragedy. The face of Virgil is depicted as simple, as his literary critics and historians will describe later - "Selyansky", but at the same time very bright and spiritual.

The full name of this great poet is Publius Virgil Maron. He was born in 70 BC. E. In a small village near Mantua in the family of a landowner. Surrounded by the nature of Italy and hard-working peasants, he grew up loving and respecting the work of the common man. Education the future poet received in Milan and Rome. Later it will be about Rome who will create his brilliant poem Virgil ("Aeneid", a brief summary of which can be found in the article).

After the premature death of his father, the poet returned to his homestead to take the place of its master. Due to internecine wars, the manor will be taken away, and Virgil - expelled from his own house.

In the year 30 BC. E. There is a collection of "Bucolics", which is interesting to us known Guy Cilinius Maecenas. Later the collection of "Georgiki" will be published, after which the monumental work - the poem of Virgil "Aeneid" will be started. This work the poet will give the last decade of his life.

Briefly about the work

A grandiose poem by Virgil "Aeneid" was created for ten years. Master many times remade his work, sometimes changing it in whole pieces.

To depict the scene in the poem as realistically as possible, the writer goes on a journey. He planned to visit many cities in Greece and Asia, but his trip was interrupted by a disease, after which, in 19 BC, E. Virgil died. Nevertheless, the brilliant poet managed to create this famous work all over the world, to invest in it all his knowledge and soul.

Mythological sources of the "Aeneid" Virgil

It is known that the great poem had a mythological basis. It is believed that the story of the travels of Aeneas is a reminder of not even a Roman, but a different culture. Later, with the light hand of the Greek poet Stesichore and Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Eney became the founder of Rome. The legend of the brave youth was widely known, which inspired Virgil. "Aeneid" was created on the basis of the legend, however it is completely independent work. This creation is original and original, contains in itself both historical facts, legends and really happened events, as well as author's style, verified plot lines and living non-ordinary characters.

It should also be said that the Romans venerated the memory of Aeneas. Many aristocratic families tried to bring their origin from this hero. Thus, they wanted to establish what are the descendants of the gods, since Aeneas himself was the son of the goddess Venus.

The Trojan Myths Cycle

The mythological basis of the poem of Virgil "Aeneid" is a cycle of Trojan myths. On their basis the "Iliad" and "Odyssey" of Homer were created. This is about forty myths that tell of the beginning of the Trojan War, the death of Troy and the fate of the heroes.

In the first myth of "Peleus and Thetis" it is told about the wedding of the sea goddess and mere mortal. All the inhabitants of Olympus were summoned to the celebration, but the invitation was not sent to the goddess Irid. In a fit of resentment and anger, she threw a golden apple on the table, where three goddesses sat: Athena (Minerva), Hera (Juno) and Aphrodite (Venus). The apple was written: "The most beautiful." Of course, the goddesses began to argue, who put this gift. The young Trojan of Paris was asked to discuss them, and he, tempted by Aphrodite's promise to receive the most beautiful woman, gave the apple to her. Two other celibates hated Paris itself and its city. Later, Paris will steal the most beautiful woman of the ancient world - the wife of the Spartan king Elena. Her husband, armed with the support of two offended goddesses, will go to war against Troy and destroy her.

Hence the origin of the dislike of Hera the Juno to Aeneas, the son of Aphrodite. The consequences of this dislike were well described in his poem by Virgil. "Aeneid", the brief content of which we are considering, will tell you about the obstacles and troubles that the protagonist had to endure.

Interesting fact

Many scholars are wondering why Virgil wanted to burn the "Aeneid".

It turns out that when the work was ready, the poet often returned to him, changing individual words, parts and even a general structure. When Virgil fell seriously ill and slept, he did not have the strength to continue working on the poem. She seemed incomplete and imperfect. In an insane outburst of discontent with himself and his creativity, the great Roman poet wanted to burn his creation. There are two versions of why he did not. Perhaps his friends stopped him, or maybe he still changed his mind, and, fortunately, the majestic reminder of Roman literature was preserved.

Parallels with Homeric works

The poem of Virgil "Aeneid" consists of two parts, six books each.

The first part tells about the wanderings of the main character - Aeneas. Here, literary scholars often draw parallels with Homer's Odyssey. Aeneas, like Odysseus, returns from the Trojan War, just like the king of Ithaca, tries to save his fleet against the will of his disgruntled gods. He wants to find peace and not wander around the world.

Another common tendency is the theme of the shield in the poems. In Homer's Iliad, Achilles shield is given a whole song, just as Virgil in the eighth chapter of the second part contains a detailed image of the Aeneas shield, which depicts the foundation of Rome. The first six books will describe the wanderings of the hero by sea and land, his stay at the Carthaginian queen of Dido, the moral search between the will of the above and his own desires.

The second part is dedicated to the gods of Rome, which causes associations with the Iliad. It tells about a new war, where it will be necessary to fight Aeneas, and about the intervention of higher forces.

First part

The poem of Virgil "Aeneid", the brief content of which we present to your attention, begins with the traditional "chorus" for the genre. In it the poet turns to the muses and tells about the difficult fate of Aeneas, whose guilt was the wrath of the goddess Juno (in Greek mythology - Hera). Then follows the story that the gods in the heroic age very often descended from Olympus to the ground. They went to mortal women to give birth to their sons. The goddess did not favor mortals. The exception was Thetis (who from the union with the mortal Achilles was born) and Aphrodite, which gave birth to Aeneas, about which we will speak.

The action of the poem takes us to the sea surface, which dissects the ship of the protagonist. He sails to the young city of Carthage. But Juno does not slumber and sends a terrible storm. For a step from the true death, the crew of Aeneas is rescued by Neptune, whom the mother of the hero, Venus, asked to do. Miraculously surviving ships nailed to an unfamiliar shore. It turns out that this is the coast of Africa and the land of Queen Didona, who came here from Phenicia, where she nearly died at the hands of her own brother and was forced to flee. She erects here the majestic city of Carthage, in the center of which sparkles the magnificent temple of Juno.

Dido takes the fugitives peacefully and prepares a feast for them, where Eney, fascinated by the beauty and hospitality of the queen, talks about the Trojan War and the last days of Troy. He describes how ingenious Achaeans (Greeks) created the figure of the famous Trojan horse and, hiding inside the "gift", at night opened the gates of bloodless Troy. So we again see parallels with the Homer's Iliad in Virgil. "Aeneid" in any case does not copy the Greek, but only based not on the same myths as his poems.

At night, Aeneas sees disturbing dreams in which prophecies are intertwined with memories: how the mother of Venus helped save Aeneas with his son and the old father. With them our hero floats away from Troy, but to what shore to stick - does not know. Everywhere the obstacles to which the evil Juno put his hand. For six years of forced wanderings of Aeneas, many difficulties and mortal dangers await. It is an escape from a city infected with a plague, a rescue from two sea monsters - Scylla and Charybdis. The desperate hero is looking for a way in the prophecies of the oracles, but their predictions are confused. One prophesies his reign in Rome, the other - the death of the whole fleet from starvation. The ships are half-ruined, the soldiers lost hope, and in one of the bays the old father Anhiz perishes. The story ends with the stricken Juno storm.

Dido with an open heart listens and sympathizes with Aeneas. A strong feeling flares between them. Nature supports them with sparkling lightning, which compares the poet with wedding torches. Its sense of steam is aware during a hunt in a thunderstorm. The image of Aeneas in Virgil's Aeneid most clearly reveals itself in feelings for the Queen of Carthage. We see him not only as a brave warrior and just leader, but also as a loving man who can give himself with all his heart.

But lovers are not meant to be together. Jupiter orders Aeneas to sail to Rome. The hero does not want this, he wants to stay with his beloved, but he knows that he can not resist the will of the gods. Dido saw the retreating masts of Aeneas fleet, rushes to the sword.

The hero is waiting for further wanderings. Near Sicily, the wives of the sailors set fire to the fleet, so that their husbands do not sail away from them. Aeneas loses four ships, but continues the bequeathed path of the gods. In Italy, he meets with the prophetess, who sends him to the underground kingdom of Hades, to the father of Anchises. Only he can reveal everything about the descendants of the hero.

Aeneas descends to Hades, where he sees his dead warriors and his beloved Dido with a bloody wound in his chest, which looks reproachfully, but does not speak to him. Finding the spirit of his father, the hero understands that his descendants are destined to found the greatest city and forever go down in history. Returning to the ground, Aeneas learns from Sibylla that his wanderings will continue on land. Thus completes the first part of his poem Virgil. "Aeneid" continues in the following books.

"Aeneid". The summary of the second part

At the beginning of the second part, the exhausted soldiers continue their journey until they stop near Latsiya. Here they dine with baked vegetables, laying them on bread cakes. When travelers eat pancakes, the son of the protagonist jokes: "So we ate tables." Surprised by Aeneas jumping up, he recalls the prophecy, which said "tables of hunger will gnaw." Now the hero knows that he has arrived at his goal. Here it is worth noting that the poem of Virgil "Aeneid" is saturated with a mystical sense of predictions and prophecies.

Rejoicing that he had reached his destination, Aeneas sent envoys to the king asking for the hand of his daughter. He gladly accepts the offer, as he knows the prediction, which says that the descendants of his daughter and stranger are destined to conquer half the world and establish a powerful kingdom.

It would seem that Aeneas and his warriors are waiting for peace and quiet. But Juno does not slumber and sends a shadow of war on Lazius. Accidentally, Aeneas' warriors kill the deer, thus insulting King Lathin. Moreover, the wounded rejected challenger Lavinia Turn is going to go to war with Aeneas rival.

Venus asks God of Hephaestus to create a strong armor for Aeneas. God-blacksmith forges a powerful shield, which depicts the history of Rome. This shield pays much space in the poem of Virgil. "Aeneid" (the summary in chapters, unfortunately, does not give a complete description of the shield) shows us the future and past of the mighty Rome.

The beginning of a new war. Completion of the poem

While our hero is busy preparing for the upcoming war, Turn is cunningly coming from the rear. But two warriors come from the fallen Troy - Eviral and Nis - make their way through the parking lot of the enemy at night to warn Aeneas. The night seems to help them: the moon is hidden behind the clouds and does not give a ray. The whole enemy camp is drowned in sleep, and the warriors pass, leaving silently dead bodies of enemies behind them. But the brave men do not have time before dawn, and Eureval is seized, and Nisus goes against three hundred warriors, but dies with dignity.

Juno breathes into Thurn her divine power, but the furious Jovian by her willfulness limits his strength. Juno and Venus in anger accuse each other in the denouement of another war and are eager to help their favorites. Their dispute stops Jupiter and says that once the war is started, then let it go at the will of fate. This explains the position of the gods of Virgil. "Aeneid" also shows them vicious and at the same time merciful. In different situations, they act just like people, obeying their feelings.

Returns the detachment of our hero, and a terrible battle begins. Turn kills his companion and close friend Aeneas Palant and, blinded by the temporary victory, takes his belt. Aeneas breaks into the thick of the battle and almost overtakes Turn, but Juno intervenes and defends him.

The war goes on, many worthy soldiers die. Falling down beaten by an arrow the beautiful Amazon Camilla. From the sword of Aeneas, Mezentius and Loves, father and son, perish. When they die, they ask them to bury them together.

Lamenting his best warriors and paying attention to the weeping of the old Latin, Thurn goes on a deal with Aeneas. He suggests not to fight, but to come together in a duel. If the victory is for Aeneas, he will remain this land, and the opponent will leave. Aeneas agrees, a temporary truce is announced, but suddenly in the sky an eagle attacks a flock of swans. Brave birds flock protected, and the stricken eagle flies. The mad old predictor Latina screams that this is a sign of their victory over the coming Turn, and throws a spear into the camp of the enemy. Again, a battle begins between the troops.

All this is seen from Olympus Juno and asks Jupiter not to let the Trojans impose their mores on Italy and allow Troy's name to perish along with the fallen city. The king of the gods agrees and says that from all tribes one nation will be born and all the world will shine its glory.

In a boiling battle, finally find each other, Aeneas and Turn. They converge in the last duel, and their blows are like thunder. In the sky above the mighty soldiers stands Jupiter, holding in the hands of scales with the lives of heroes. After the first strike, Turn's spear breaks on the shield forged by Hephaestus-Vulcan, and the opponent, wounded in the thigh, falls. Aeneas is ready to kill him already, he takes the sword over him, but his enemy begs mercy for the sake of the old father. Aeneas stops, but his eyes see Palant's belt on the Tour. And he, remembering his dead friend, kills his enemy to death. This last scene ends the poem of Virgil.

Analysis of the work

The "Aeneid" of Virgil, whose tradition and innovation were closely intertwined and seemingly inseparable, is indeed very progressive for its time. Traditional for the poem is the appeal to mythology as a source of plot moves, as well as its structure with the usual use of lyrical entry and a brief reference to the reader describing future events.

The innovation of the work consists in depicting the main character - Aeneas. Unlike the epic poems written before the "Aeneid", here the characters are very sincere, real. Enei himself is not only a brave warrior, he is a devoted friend, a good father and a worthy son. In addition, the hero knows how to love. Despite the fact that he at the will of the gods is forced to leave his beloved Dido, he sincerely regrets this and does not want to leave.

A lot of problems raise the "Aeneid" Virgil. The analysis of the poem is quite complicated, because the work is multifaceted and covers many ideas. An important place in the work is the theme of prophecy. Characters believe predictors and act as prescribed by them in the revelations of the oracles and seers. And if even one of them does not believe in prophecy, it will still come true. But here everything is filled with somewhat different content than in Homer's Odyssey. In the poem of the great Greek, it was about the predicted fate of Odysseus himself, and in the "Aeneid" the hero was not predicted fate, and his destiny was to establish a new great kingdom. Despite the fact that Aeneas is going through many worries and misfortunes, he does not flinch, he goes to his goal.

The influence of the will of the gods on the fate of not only man, but the whole people is traditionally for the works of ancient Rome. However, in the "Aeneid" this acquires a new meaning. Here, the gods not only seek their own rewards in the form of respect for them and the erection of temples, but they are also able to sympathize and empathize with mortal heroes and peoples, to whom they are benevolent.

Also worth noting the moment of Aeneas travel to the underground kingdom of Pluto. The theme itself is quite traditional, but innovative is the perception of the soul seen by the hero and the heard fatherly prophecy in Hades.

Instead of conclusions

The poem "Aeneid" is an epic strongest work not even of literature, but of art. People's destinies and destinies of entire nations, battles and personal experiences of heroes, friendship and love, simple human desires and the will of the gods, the ultimate destiny are closely interwoven in the work.

For ten years he wrote a brilliant poem by Virgil. "Aeneid" by chapters in the translation is read quite easily. The poem will be interesting to everyone who wants to know about the history and culture of ancient Rome.