Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thanksgiving Discussion
In Book II, lines 1-56, Vergil foreshadows the doom of Troy. Using at least 3 Latin examples, discuss how Vergil does this. After posting your own answer, comment (constructively!) on another student's answer. You must post your two assigned postings by midnight on Nov. 30. No late posts will be counted.
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Gahhh okay I already did this once but then the blog was like just kidding you didn't ACTUALLY send it so I'm going to do it again and try to keep the bitter comments to myself.
ReplyDeleteOkay first off, I'm not quite sure how you can foreshadow something that's already happened, so the prompt is kind of confusing me but I shall do my best.
In lines 1-56 of Book II of the Aeneid, Vergil uses diction and mood to foreshadow the doom of Troy. The Trojans became "intent" at the mention of Troy and Aeneas referred to Troy as "unspeakable sorrow" (infandum...delorem; ln. 3). The reader would think that any mention of Troy would make Trojans happy; because the opposite has occurred, Vergil signals that something must have happened at Troy to make the Trojans unwilling to speak of it. This is the first time that a reader gets the sense that something has happened at Troy. Aeneas continues on to refer to the "final labor of the Trojans" (Troiae supremum audire laborem; ln. 11). If the reader did not catch the first few cues, this one will definitely jump out. Aeneas' reference to the "final labor" indicates that the Trojans, and presumably Troy, are not around anymore to labor, and the reader understands that something has ended Troy. Finally, Aeneas refers to Tenedos as "an island very famous by reputation, rich in wealth while the kingdoms of Priam remained,now only a harbor and a station badly safe for keels/ships" (notissima fama insula, dives opum Priami dum regna manebant,nunc tantum sinus et statio male fida carinis; ln. 21-23). The prosperity of Tenedos :while the kingdoms of Priam remained" has been completely negated, showing that the kingdoms of Priam no longer stand. Virgil moves on in later lines to describe the Trojan horse and the slaughter of the Trojans.
Vergil foreshadows the fall of Troy by referring to the miserable things that Aeneas saw (line 5 “quaeque ipse miserrima vidi”) and the unspeakable sorrow (line 3 “infandum…dolorem”) that Aeneas experiences in retelling the tale. By referencing the intense pain that Aeneas goes through to tell what happened to the Trojans the audience can surmise that the story does not end happily for and Aeneas and his companions. Another way that Vergil foreshadows Troy’s doom is by talking about the final labor of Troy (line 11 “Troiae supremum… laborem”). Had Troy continued on or if the fates of the gods had not been unfavorable (line 54 “si fata deum … laeva”) then it would not have been the final labor of Troy. By both showing Aeneas’s pain in remembering the past and talking about the final labor of Troy Vergil foreshadows Troy’s fall and ultimate doom.
ReplyDeleteVirgil foreshadows the destruction of Troy through a mournful and foreboding tone. Virgil emphasizes the sorrow felt by Aeneas and his men. He describes them as full of “unspeakable sorrow” (“Infandum…dolorem,” ln 3), and “pitiable” (“lamentabile,” ln 40), bearing memories so painful that Aeneas’s “soul shudders to remember and recoils from the sorrow” (“animus…refugit”, ln 12). These descriptions relate the immense pain that the men feel; obviously, something terrible has happened to drive them from their homeland.
ReplyDeleteAeneas describes the Trojans who distrust the horse as “quorum melior sententia menti” (ln. 35), or “those in whose minds the opinion was better.” This implies that bringing the horse inside would not be “better,” and would cause trouble. When Laocoon, one of those who knows better, throws a spear at the horse, the “hollow cavity resounded and gave a groan” (“insonuere…cavernas,” ln 53). This unnatural occurrence further shows that something is wrong about the horse, and creates an ominous tone that foreshadows trouble. However it is the last line that tells the reader for sure that Troy has been destroyed. Aeneas mournfully cries that if the gods were not against them, “Troy would still stand” (ln 54-56). Vergil reveals in this final moment that Troy is no longer standing, and has been destroyed.
Anwesha-
ReplyDeleteYou had a good point when you talked about Tenedos, and how it description changed drastically. It shows a before and after picture of Troy. Vergil also does this when he says "Priamique arx alta maneres," or "high citadel of Priam, you would remain." This is another thing representing the glory of Troy that no longer exists, implying that the kingdom itself is gone as well.
Ali-
ReplyDeleteVery nice, lots of textual references. Obviously (as if we didn't know already) you know what you're talking about. Not that it's really important, but sticking to one spelling of Vergil/Virgil would probably be best. When talking about how the men went through great pain you could also mention the "very miserable things which I (Aeneas) myself saw" in line 5 (quaeque ipse miserrima vidi).
To rule out any plagiarism, I'm going to read everyone else's comments after I post this. Vergil foreshadows Troy's doom by over-dramatizing the situation. Aeneas whines and acts kind of like a typical southlake girl and says things like "Queen you order me to renew unspeakable sorrow" Renewing the unspeakable sorrow is Troy being Doomed. Aeneas refers to Troy as a pitiable city, you wouldn't pity something if nothing bad happened to it..Also- the fatal gift of Minerva - fatal meaning deadly meaning bad things happen ergo Troy is in for major trouble/death.
ReplyDeleteAnwesha, I think it is foreshadowing something WE already know happened but that the audience is supposed to be unaware of. I'm sure it is some Greek term with Vergil trying to show off (hysteron proteron and that fancy dative he uses)
ReplyDeleteTenedos is referred to as a forsaken coast. I think that's important lol.
I too had multes problems with the Blog. Mrs. G!!! HELP!!!1!
I'm going to text Max and tell him to post now XP
ReplyDeleteVirgil foreshadows troy's fall through laocoon's actions and speech to the people. he calls the people "unfortunate citizens" (42), which gives the air of disaster or great suffering, which has not happened yet in aeneas' story. also, laocoon symbolizes the wisdom of troy, through his perception of the greek plot and knowledge of greeks...hidden in this lumber" (45), and his eradication by the giant snakes *cough-that-aren't-even-in-this-section-of-the-text-cough* is an analogy for the death of the wisdom and life of troy. also, laocoon's act of spearing the giant wooden horse has no effect on it, and the weapon seems to pale by comparison to the massive object. unfortunately, this could be an analogy for the power of troy (spear) having no effect on the defenses of the greeks (giantwooden horse).
ReplyDeleteMike - gimme some line numbers...
guess that's it.
who else is starving!?!?!?
Ali and Max-
ReplyDeleteYou guys both made good points about the horse and the trouble that it held for the Trojans. Max, your comparison of the spear and the horse to Troy and the power of the Greeks was really good. Yay everybody!