LITERATURE OF ANCIENT ROME

Why is it important?

The empire The language The Influences

The People

Patricians: the upper class, oldest noble families, first to run the republic ran by the paterfamilias

Plebeians: Roman citizens 4th Century BCE they won political rights, middle class

The Army: escape from poverty, legionnaires (Roman Citizens), auxiliaries (from other provinces), had medical care, from teenager on for 25 years, built bridges, road ways

Slaves: captured people during war, they became tutors, clerks, but also worked hard; Spartacus led slave revolt

How do we know so much about the everyday life?

Pompeii

The Legend

735 BC Aeneas Romulus and Remus

The Republic

509-27 BC Punic Wars: Gained control over the

Mediterranean. By 60 BC Rome ruled: Greece, Macedonia, Asia Minor, Syria, and Judea

Julius Caesar: 46 BC stopped the civil wars

Roman Empire: Growth

Augustus: “exalted one,” grandnephew of Julia Caesar, defeated Marc Antony and Cleopatra

His Rule marked 200 years of stability called Pax Roman was the Golden or Augustan Age

The Decline and Fall

AD 200-476 Marcus Aurelius: Last wise emperor, 180

AD Germanic Tribes Like Troy

Arts and Culture

Architecture Public Entertainment Bread and Circuses Law and Government Religion

Literature

CiceroVirgilHoraceLivy and TacitusPlautusTerence

Elements of Roman Literature

Greek influenced High Prose Idea of freedom Political ideals

The Aeneid

1. What Aeneas a epic hero? Explain. Make sure you think about the elements of the epic hero. (The main character is a hero, who has supernatural qualities (their strength is unexplainable, these are not superpowers,), the hero is charged with a quest, the hero is tested, often to prove the worthiness of himself and his quest, the presence of numerous mythical beings, magical and helpful animals, and human helpers and companions, The hero’s travels take him to a supernatural world, often one that normal human beings are barred from entering, the cycle must reach a low point where the hero nearly gives up his quest or appears defeated, a resurrection, Restitution. Often this takes the form of the hero regaining his rightful place on the throne.)

2. How are the Greek Heroes depicted compared to The Iliad?

3. A culture hero is a larger than life figure who reflects the values of a people. To the Ancient Romans Aeneas was a culture hero. What values did he represent to their culture? (Hint: look at his foil, Pyrrhus).

Below is a famous Greek stature entitled Laocoon and His Sons. You read about Laocoon on pages 361-362, explain this myth being depicted and the cause. Explain the supernatural elements involved as well. Use some of Virgil’s lines to show the imagery of his death.

5. What can you infer about the Roman’s form their reaction to Laocoon’s death?

6. How is dramatic irony used with the wooden horse?

7. Read lines 126-130, rephrase these words. Why is this noted?

8. What qualities does Aeneas show in lines 160-171?

9. What is the external conflict in The Aeneid? (Go beyond war.)

10. This is an epic, make a list of the elements of an epic and then identify as many as you can with specific examples.

11.How does Aeneas escape and help others?

12.Look at the simile in lines 265-266, what does this say abut Hecuba?

13. What happens to King Priam? 14.What is Aeneas’ internal conflict? How

does he deal with it? 15. What is Aeneas’ feelings towards

Helen? 16. Look at the epic simile in lines 400-

408 what is being compared here and why?

17. What is Venus’ (the Greek god Aphrodite) role in the Aeneid?

18. What is the relationship between Aenas and his mother like? Explain.

19. What is Aeneas’ divine mission? 20. What elements show that this was

written for the audience? 21. Create a venn-diagram comparing

and contrasting Achilles and Aenas. Create a thesis statement comparing the two heroes.