Virgil's Aeneid: Modern Scholarship (OCR A-Level Classical Civilisations)

The following document contains an array of scholarly views in relation to Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’ and has been designed for students studying the OCR Classical Civilisation Specification for ‘World of the Hero.’ It has been broken down into the appropriate sections, with the scholar’s name and their argument, including key quotes. This can be used to accompany the text, for students to incoorporate scholarship into their own answers or to simply annotate.

Sections include;
Literary techniques and composition
 Structure and plot of the epic
 Language of the epic, including the use of:
 Speeches
 Themes
 Flashback
 Similes
 Homeric influence
 Context
*** Characterisation and Themes**
 Concepts, values and behaviour of a Greek and Roman hero
 Characterisation of major and minor characters (including Aeneas and Dido)
 The role of Aeneas in Rome’s Imperial Destiny
 Portrayal of War
 Portrayal of Different Nations
The Social, Cultural and Religious Context
 Moral values implicit in the Aeneid, including pietas and its contrast with furor
 Importance of Fate and Destiny
 Role of the immortals (and relationship between mortals and immortals)
 Family and Friendship
 Relationships between men and women, parents and children
 Part played by women in the epic and their position in society
Historical and Political Background

The word document contains an array of scholarly views in relation to Virgil’s Aeneid and has been designed for students studying the OCR Classical Civilisation Specification for ‘World of the Hero.’ It has been broken down into the appropriate books, with the scholar’s name and their argument, including key quotes. There is an opportunity for students to give their own perception of the view and come to the conclusion as to whether they agree or disagree with them.