| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: |
Jennifer Martin
Tel: 01458 850054
|
| When: | Fortnightly on Wednesday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm Week 2. 2 terms. |
| Venue: | Baltonsborough Church Room |
The Aeneid
This group was formerly called "Exploring Greek Literature". The reason for the change of name is that in Autumn term we shall not be reading Greek Literature, but Latin (translated of course): the AENEID by Virgil. Having read about all the heroes who took part in the Trojan War in the Iliad and followed one of them, Odysseus, on his tumultuous journey home in the Odyssey, we thought it was time to follow a different hero on his journey to found a new city, Aeneas.
Virgil wrote this epic to give Rome a glorious foundation story to enhance its reputation under its new ruler, Augustus, who had emerged as emperor after years of civil war and dreadful bloodshed.
In this epic, we read of Aeneas’ adventures on his way home from Troy, including storms, shipwreck, funeral games, and most poignant of all, a tragic love affair, until he finally arrives on the shores of Italy only to have another war to fight until he achieves his goal. Through all of this, itis the figure of Aeneas himself that is the most intriguing: he is no Achilles or Odysseus, but a much more modern figure, full of doubts and indecision and yet a true leader. He is fascinating and so is the Aeneid.
The way we study this is to read a chapter at home and then we examine and discuss it in class. This is the best bit! How are these classical tales relevant to us today? Come to the class and see!