Aeneid Book 12

Aeneid Book 12

1. Characterisation

   • Mortals
     • Turnus
       • Angry - "burned with implacable rage"
       • Passionate - "violent passion"
       • "distraught with love"
       • Fast runner - "faster than the east wind he flew"
         • Like Hektor he chooses to flee rather than fight in fear
       • Claims to be scared of the gods, not Aeneas
       • Strong, carries and throws a boulder that 12 men of Virgil's age could not lift
     • Aeneas
       • "Effeminate"
       • "blazing like a star"
       • "devout" - first thing he does is pray to Jupiter & Juno & Mars
       • Eager for Battle - In a fury about being kept out of battle due to injury
       • Focused on killing Turnus - "breaking off all works of war"
       • Threatening - Threatens to raize the city
       • Called a "god" of Italy by Jupiter - Respect
       • Aeneas kills Turnus in a fit of angry passion
     • Amata
       • "deranged with grief"
   • Gods
     • Juturna
       • Emotional - cries when Juno tells her Turnus will die
         • Loyal to her brother
       • Gets really sad about immortality

2. Portrayal of war

   • "calamities of war"
   • "the mothers, those who could not bear arms, and the weak old men" stand on the walls of the city to watch the fight
   • Turnus has far more men than Aeneas - "we are short of enemies"
   • "the horror of battle"
   • Virgil makes direct appeal to jupiter - "was it your will, O Jupiter.." - shows how awful the fighting is
   • Loads of people die, including those whp had not been killed in other great wars

3. Rome's imperial destiny

   • Aeneas is the "founder of the Roman race"
   • Ascanius is the 2nd hope for the future greatness of Rome
   • Like Augustus, Aeneas does not seek Royal power
   • Jupiter allows the Latin name and language to be carried on by the Romans

4. Role of gods

   • Juno says she has favoured Jaturna
   • Juno gives Juturna her permission to interfere - "you dare. I sanction."
   • Juturna disguises as Camers and rouses the Rutulians to fight
   • By rejecting the treaty, the men reject the gods - "his rejected gods"
   • Apollo gives no help to Iapyx
   • Venus picks dittany from mount Ida and puts it in the water Iapyx uses to bathe Aeneas' wound
   • Jupiter offers no help when Aeneas calls upon him and the treaty in battle
   • Aeneas says Jupiter is on his side but there is no evidence of this
   • Jupiter lifts his scales to see who will win in Aeneas Vs Turnus
   • Faunus aids Turnus by making Aeneas' spear stay lodged in the tree trunk
   • Venus frees Aeneas' spear from the tree trunk
   • Jupiter bans Juno from interfering further
     • Juno sends a Dira to tell Juturna to leave the battle
       • The Dira terrifies Turnus
   • Jupiter allows the Latins to keep their name and Language - will be the language of the Romans

5. Honour and reputation

   • Turnus realises that he must honour his promises
   • Turnus is willing to "barter." his "life for glory"
   • Turnus says the men of Italy will never violate the treaty - but they do
   • Messapus gives Aulestes to the gods
   • No one wants to admit that they were the one to shoot Aeneas
   • Aeneas says Ascanius can learn Courage from him
   • Amata dies a "hideous death"
   • Turnus is shamed by Saces for driving his chariot out of battle
   • Aeneas kills Turnus in a fit of passion - it is not necessarily an honourable murder

6. Power of fate & omens

   • Amata says her fate is tied to Turnus'
   • The day of the fates is upon Turnus
   • Juturna's false omen of Jupiter's eagle convinces the Rutulians they should fight
   • Fates are to trong for Turnus to evade

7. Heroism

   • Turnus also has a divine weapon - his sword
   • Turnus is not an equal to his destiny, according to Juno
   • Aeneas is far bigger than Turnus, and the Rutulians lose faith in their Hero's Ability
   • Tolumnius says he will lead the Rutulians
   • Turnus kills "many a brave hero" in his rampage
     • Compared to Mars
     • "Victorious"
   • The Sight of Aeneas alone is able to send "cold tremors of fear' through the Ausonians
     • Even Juturna flees him
   • "the sword and spear of Aeneas are like lightning"

8. Family

   • Latinus views Turnus as a son - "i gave way to my love for you"
   • Turnus calls Latinus "father"
   • Amata views Turnus as a son - she cannot live without him
   • Messapus is the son of Neptune
   • Turnus tries to appeal to the love Aeneas had for his father
   • Juturna is Turnus' sister
   • Latinus is descended from Sol
   • The death of his wife causes Latinus to be dazed

9. Women

   • Venus is described as using "woman's tricks"
   • Lavinia viewed as a prize to be won - "this is the field where the hand of Lavinia shall be won"
     • "Lavinia is yours"
   • Turnus mocks Aeneas as "effeminate"