Little, Wendy Jane; (2019) An exploration of the Virgilian structure of the Aeneid and its reuse in Silver Latin, Flavian, and Renaissance epic. Masters thesis (M.Phil), UCL (University College London).

Preview

Text SUBMISSION COPY22092019.pdf - Accepted Version Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

The focus of this paper is Jupiter’s first prophecy scene from the Aeneid. This passage has most often been considered in the light of the political context. Less scholarly interest has been shown in examining this scene from an intertextual point of view, but an analysis of this scene from this perspective can be used as an entry point into the broader problem of structure and closure in post-Virgilian epic. // As many scholars have already acknowledged, an epic’s beginning is inextricably tied up with its ending. Any discussion of Jupiter’s prophecy scene is immediately complicated by the fact that this narratorial device operates in conjunction with the final scene in the epic between the gods which, in turn, brings about the resolution of the epic. The purpose of this study is to address the correlation between these two major scenes. The prophecy scene between Jupiter and Venus in Book 1 correlates with the reconciliation scene in Book 12 between Jupiter and Juno. Not only do these scenes function to provide a point of reference for the reader, but these two scenes, combined with a dual narrative structure (one ‘human/historical’, one ‘divine’), actually form the very structure. The prophecy scene controls the historical storyline for the human players, whilst the reconciliation scene controls the resolution of the epic. The importance of the reconciliation scene cannot be overestimated because it also reveals Juno’s function within the narrative. When Jupiter and Juno reach an apparent reconciliation, questions linger about the bargain struck. What assurances do we have in Jupiter’s very words? The interpretation of this scene has come under scrutiny. Some scholars believe that the gods reach a happy reconciliation, whilst others (more correctly) argue that this is not the case. Feeney (1991, pp.148-9), whose views on this particular Virgilian passage warrant special discussion, correctly claims that Jupiter and Juno reach only a partial agreement in the reconciliation scene. As Feeney (1984, p.344) has correctly pointed out, ‘the crucial point is the obvious one – that Juno’s hatred of Troy is only half her motivation’: whilst her mythological grievance (Troy) is resolved, her historical grievance (Carthage) remains unresolved. From a divine perspective, Juno’s wrath has been only partly appeased; this therefore suggested that the hostility on the human plane, between Rome and Carthage, still remained potent and unresolved. // Methodology: Based on Feeney’s assumption, corresponding scenes were analysed in in epics subsequent to the Aeneid, in order to investigate whether they followed the same structural patterning. The objective of this methodology was to investigate whether Juno’s ongoing hostility ensured continuity across the epic tradition. The epics chosen for this study were Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Silius Italicus’ Punica, Valerius Flaccus’ Argonautica, Maphaeus Vegius’s Thirteenth Book, and Sannazaro’s De partu Virginis. // Results: In summary, Feeney’s analysis held true, not only for the Aeneid, but also for the majority of the epics in this study. So, the final question remained, ‘Was the relationship between Jupiter and Juno ever a “Match made in Heaven”? Concord between the divine couple occurred only three times. First, in Metamorphoses 14 when Ovid concluded the theme of Junonian anger, thus closing down the divine narrative, and Juno was effectively removed from the equation. Secondly, in Maphaeus Vegius’s Thirteenth Book in his desire to supply a ‘happier’ ending to the Aeneid. Finally, Sannazaro’s ending, which naturally presumed the Coronation of the Virgin, echoed the ending in Metamorphoses 14. Therefore, in a seamless continuity, Christian epic came to supplant Classical Epic, and concord between God and Mary in the Heavenly realms, came to supplant concord between Jupiter and Juno in Olympus.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONCSVXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as JSONCSVXML

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as CSVJSONXML

Archive Staff Only

View Item