Text Rationale / Teacher Recommendation

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1 Highland Park High School English Department Literature Selection Process Text Rationale / Teacher Recommendation Text Proposed for the following Course(s): English I, all levels Date of Submission: 01/25/2016 Title of Work: Aeneid Author: Virgil, translated by Robert Fagles Copyright: 2006 SUMMARY Virgil's seminal epic, the Aeneid, tells the story of Aeneas's journey in search of the land where he is destined to build the city that will one day become the great Roman Empire. Largely influenced by Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, the Aeneid begins halfway through Aeneas's journey, as he nears the city of Carthage, ruled over by Dido, who built the city after fleeing from her murderous brother. Over dinner one night, he tells Dido and her court about his travels thus far. Aeneas recounts the story of the fall of Troy, and how he was forced to leave the city of his birth with his father Anchises, his son Ascanius, and his wife Creusa. During the flight, he lost Creusa, whose shade appeared to him, telling him to follow his destiny, which is to build a great city and take a royal bride. Aeneas and the other Trojan refugees set out to sea, where they had a great many adventures before arriving in Carthage: believing that their destined land was in Crete, they founded a city there, only to be struck down by a plague that forced them to leave; they fought against the Harpies and were cursed by their leader, Celeano; they fled the island of the Cyclops to avoid being slaughtered by the one-eyed beasts; Anchises died on the island of Drepanum. When Aeneas finishes telling Dido his tale, she realizes that she has become inflamed with love for him, and she pursues him relentlessly. Juno manipulates the situation so that the pair spends the night in a cave, where they become lovers. Eventually, however, Aeneas realizes that he has been abandoning his destiny by dallying in Carthage, so he readies his men to leave. Dido has convinced herself that the two are in fact husband and wife, and she is so distraught by her lover's abandonment that she builds a funeral pyre and slays herself on it using Aeneas's sword. As Aeneas and his men sail away from Carthage, they see the city aflame, the residents in a panic, but they do not know that the queen has died. The fleet sails to Drepanum, where they engage in celebrations commemorating the one-year anniversary of Anchises's death, and Aeneas receives a prophecy telling him to travel to the Underworld to meet with his father. With the sibyl of Cumae, Deiphobe, as his guide, Aeneas travels through the Underworld in search of Anchises. On the journey, Aeneas sees a great many terrible sights, including restless souls who have not received proper burials, the ghosts of dead babies, and the terrifying fortress Tartarus, where the most horrible sinners live in eternal torture. When he finally locates his father in the beautiful Elysium, where only the most heroic souls go to rest, Anchises shows him the shades that, once reincarnated,

2 will become the heroes of the Roman Empire. Aeneas returns to the land of the living, certain of the need to fulfill his destiny, and then sets sail for Laurentum, where he will build his great city. When Aeneas and his men arrive in Laurentum, they are greeted warmly by King Latinus, who has heard a prophecy that his daughter, Lavinia, should be wed to a foreigner. Juno, however, angered by the treaty, sends one of the Furies to stir up trouble. The Fury Allecto starts a war between the Trojans and the Latins by striking anger into the heart of Turnus, Lavinia's other suitor. She also inspires Latinus's wife, Queen Amata, to do all that she can to prevent the Trojans from building their city in Laurentum. Turnus calls the Latin men to arms against the foreigners, and a terrible, drawn-out battle ensues. Aeneas seeks the aid of King Evander, ruler of a poor neighboring kingdom, and the Etruscans, who wish to avenge the wrong done to them by Mezentius, one of Turnus's supporters. King Evander entrusts his son, Pallas, to fight at the great warrior's side, but Pallas is brutally slain by Turnus - a move that Turnus will come to regret. Eventually, even the Latins come to realize the inevitability of the Trojan victory, and they call for a one-on-one duel between Turnus and Aeneas. Just as the duel is about to begin, however, Turnus's sister Juturna inflames the Latin troops. A young Trojan is killed, and the battle begins once again. Finally, even Turnus realizes that the only way to end the slaughter is through a duel, so the two meet in a field. Aeneas clearly has the upper hand throughout the battle, even though Turnus is aided by his sister, Juturna, until Jupiter intervenes and declares that the gods may no longer meddle in mortal affairs. Finally, Aeneas strikes Turnus to the ground, and the fallen man pleads for his life, or at least for his corpse to be sent back to his father for burial. Although Aeneas is momentarily moved by his adversary's plea, he sees that Turnus has callously slung Pallas's belt across his shoulders, and Aeneas decides not to be merciful. The epic ends with Aeneas plunging his sword through Turnus's heart and then with Turnus's moaning shade fleeing to the Underworld. AUTHOR S WRITING STYLE The Aeneid is an epic poem written in 12 books and is modeled in part on the great Greek epic poems, on Homer's Iliadand Odyssey, and on Apollonius' Argonautica. The Iliad describes the exploits of Achilles and other Greek heroes in the Trojan War (the same war which forced Aeneas to leave Troy and is described in Book II of the Aeneid) whilst the Odyssey describes how Ulysses (or Odysseus in Greek) wandered for many years, trying to return home after the Trojan War. The first six books of the Aeneid parallel the Odyssey because they describe Aeneas' search for a home. Aeneas even stops in many of the same places that Odysseus did. There is an important difference, however, for whilst Odysseus was trying to return to his original home, Aeneas must find a new place in which to settle and make his home. The second six books parallel the Iliad, for they describe the war in Italy just as the Iliad describes the Trojan War. Again, there are many parallels. For example, the Trojans are besieged inside their fort in Italy just as they were trapped inside Troy. But again there is an important difference, since the Iliad describes how the Trojans lost the war and Troy fell but in theaeneid the Trojans win the war in Italy and get the chance to build a new city. Virgil imitates many scenes from both the Iliad and the Odyssey in his epic, but he always changes them in significant ways so that they illustrate his own Roman themes. One of the most important differences between Homer's epics and the Aeneid is that it can be read as a patriotic poem whilst the Iliad and the Odyssey are poems about individuals and their adventures. Homer emphasizes heroes, not

3 countries. But one of Virgil's main points is to show how Rome became the city it is, and to outline the virtues that make a good Roman citizen or leader, and in this way Virgil is far more moralistic in his approach than Homer. One example of this difference in attitude can be seen in the epithets applied by the poets to their respective heroes, for whilst Odysseus is 'poikilios "wily", Aeneas is frequently described as pius, "pious" or "righteous", which conveys a strong moral tone. The Aeneid can be viewed as being divided into three parts. The first four books take place with Dido in Carthage, including a flashback to the fall of Troy. The second four books (V-VIII) describe the Trojans' arrival in Italy and Aeneas' trip to the underworld where he sees the future of Rome. The last four books (IX-XII) describe the war in Italy and Aeneas' triumph over Turnus. The books of the Aeneid can also be considered in pairs. The odd-numbered books tend to be less dramatic (for example, Book III in which the Trojans' wanderings are described or Book V which contains the funeral games held for Anchises). The even-numbered books reach greater emotional peaks, for example, the death of Dido in Book IV, and Aeneas' vision of the future in Book VI. Just as the Aeneid's structure is modeled in part on the Iliad and the Odyssey, so is its style. However, Virgil's language and levels of descriptive imagery are far more complex than those found in Homer, and the pome is full of beautiful images, subtle allusions and a symbolism that lends it a richer, denser texture than the Greek epics. Another epic convention that Virgil makes great use of is long speeches by the major characters, and as with many of the later Roman poets, Virgil's training in rhetoric is very much in evidence. AWARDS AND RECOGNITION From the award-winning translator of The Iliad and The Odyssey comes a brilliant new translation of Virgil s great epic Fleeing the ashes of Troy, Aeneas, Achilles mighty foe in the Iliad, begins an incredible journey to fulfill his destiny as the founder of Rome. His voyage will take him through stormy seas, entangle him in a tragic love affair, and lure him into the world of the dead itself all the way tormented by the vengeful Juno, Queen of the Gods. Ultimately, he reaches the promised land of Italy where, after bloody battles and with high hopes, he founds what will become the Roman empire. An unsparing portrait of a man caught between love, duty, and fate, the Aeneid redefines passion, nobility, and courage for our times. Robert Fagles, whose acclaimed translations of Homer s Iliad and Odyssey were welcomed as major publishing events, brings the Aeneid to a new generation of readers, retaining all of the gravitas and humanity of the original Latin as well as its powerful blend of poetry and myth. Featuring an illuminating introduction to Virgil s world by esteemed scholar Bernard Knox, this volume lends a vibrant new voice to one of the seminal literary achievements of the ancient world.

4 For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. A new and noble standard bearer... There s a capriciousness to Fagles s line well suited to this vast story s ebb and flow. -The New York Times Book Review (front page review) Fagles s new version of Virgil s epic delicately melds the stately rhythms of the original to a contemporary cadence.... He illuminates the poem s Homeric echoes while remaining faithful to Virgil s distinctive voice. -The New Yorker Robert Fagles gives the full range of Virgil s drama, grandeur, and pathos in vigorous, supple modern English. It is fitting that one of the great translators of The Iliad and The Odyssey in our times should also emerge as a surpassing translator of The Aeneid. -J. M. Coetzee RATIONALE Which aspects of the text do you think would be appealing and engaging to students? The Odyssey is an excellent work of literature for ninth or tenth grade students to read. By this time most students have already been introduced to mythology, so that the world of Odysseus is not completely foreign to them. Learners of all ability levels enjoy the adventurous and imaginative stories of the Greek gods and mortals, and The Odyssey is a good introduction to similar stories, such as Beowulf, that they may encounter later in their high school studies. Lower-ability learners can follow this story. The language at times may seem formidable, but with additional visuals and frequent plot summaries, they should be able to understand the basic journey of Odysseus and the obstacles that he encounters along the way. Students can enjoy studying the interesting customs and beliefs of the ancient Greeks, evaluating characters and their decisions throughout the story as they delight in the action and adventure. One of the themes of The Odyssey is the development of Telemachus from a dependent boy into a mature, responsible adult. Students can identify with the fact that he begins to accept more responsibility as he grows up. He is trying to figure out who he is and what he should do with himself, especially in the absence of his father. Students who live in a one-parent home can identify with his dilemmas. They may also recognize some of Penelope s and Odysseus s situations and feelings, especially those of helplessness, mistrust, and yearning. The value of family and home in the epic can be stressed in the classroom

5 What are the major thematic elements of this text? Fate and Free Will The theme of Fate is hugely important in the Aeneid. Heck, it seems like every five minutes we're being reminded that the Trojans are going to found a new city in Italy. When we see the souls of fu... Power Virgil wrote the Aeneid during a period when Roman territory had just experienced significant expansion, first under Julius Caesar, and then, more recently, under Caesar Augustus (a.k.a. Octavian),... Love The Aeneid is deeply respectful of love a respect shading into fear. That is because it recognizes that love is an extremely powerful, and unpredictable, force. From the very first moments... Warfare In his transition from the first half of the Aeneid, which is mostly about travel and adventures, to the second half, which is mostly about war, Virgil announces that "A greater history opens befor... Duty In the Aeneid, the themes of Duty, Religion, and Family are very closely intertwined. The nexus of all these ideas comes in the epithet "pius," by which Virgil regularly refers to Aeneas. Although... Mortality To understand the Aeneid's take on the theme of mortality, its useful to compare its view with that of the epic poems of Homer, from which Virgil took so many of his ideas. In Homer's Iliad and Ody... Religion As already noted under the theme of Duty, religion for the Romans was very tied up in ideas of obligations, not only to the gods, but to one's family and nation as well. Just bear that in mind so y... Memory and The Past One way of thinking about the structure of the Aeneid as a whole is as divided between the first half, in which Aeneas is oriented toward the past, and the second half, in which he is oriented towa... Family As we've pointed out under the themes of Duty and Religion, for the Romans, family formed part of a deeply interrelated set of concepts far beyond what we experience today. In your professional opinion, what is the reading level of this text? Provide evidence. It is similar to The Odyssey, and The Odyssey is a 9 th grade text. Therefore, I believe it is appropriate for 9 th or 10 th grade English classes.

6 How does this text address HP curricular objectives outlined in the course curriculum? It functions as an alternate text to Homer s Odyssey. It meets all of the requirements and curricular objectives of that book. Therefore, it is appropriate for all 9 th grade classrooms, Pre-AP or otherwise. How does this text address the Learner of the Future Profile? The Aeneid allows the reader to understand the founding of another great culture and nation that is not too different from her own. TEKS The proposed text supports the following TEKS: Fig.19.B (Fiction) E1.1.A E1.1.B E1.1.C E1.2.A E1.2.B E1.6.A E1.10.A E1.10.B E1.13.A E1.13.B E1.13.C E1.13.D E1.13.E E1.15.B (i, ii) E1.15.D E1.17.A (II) E1.17.B E1.17.C E1.18.A E1.18.B (ii, iii) E1.19.A E1.23.A E1.23.B E1.23.E CLARIFICATION OF CONTENT HPISD policy states, Literature selections shall not contain excessive or gratuitous explicit sexuality, excessive or gratuitous profanity, or excessive or gratuitous graphic violence. There is some violence in this text such as Dido s suicide but no more than that of The Odyssey (which is the standard option for this course). SIMILAR WORKS The Odyssey by Homer The Iliad by Homer