2014+SH+P6+Virgil+of+Mantua

Virgil of Mantua Harrison: audience, aim Rachel: Historical, and cultural

Virgil of Mantua was an ancient Roman poet. He was a legend in rome during his own lifetime.He was undoubtedly an influential Roman which gave him patronage of the Emperor.” His influence in the canon of poetry is incontestable and he enjoyed the benefits of Emperor Augustus's patronage”(Gradesaver 1). Virgil having the emperor's patronship meant he was the best of the best it meant that the emperor would find him and was willing to do so because he was such a great master. Virgil wrote 3 major books in his lifetime and wrote a series of poems. Virgil was undoubtedly one of the greatest poets of all time, he was a cultural influence on Rome. Many Romans” regarded him as their greatest poet, an estimation that subsequent generations have upheld”(Encyclopedia Britannica 1). The wonder of Virgil had been tested by time, and he influenced the entire culture of Rome. This meant that Virgil was one of the driving literary sources in western Europe. The fact that his reputation is still intact signifies just how great of a writer he was.

Summary/Bio:

Historical [Rachel Huston] Virgil was a Roman poet that was born October 15, 70 BC. He started from a very early age, learning about the world, “[he] received his first education when he was five years old and he later went to Cremona, Milan, and finally Rome to study rhetoric, medicine, and astronomy, which he soon abandoned for philosophy” (Williams). He wrote many works such as, The Aeneid, The Eclogues and The Georgics, which contained, heroic figures, which were very different from Virgil himself who was described as “ extremely shy and reserved” (Williams). Though despite being so reserved “it is certain that the poems are based on Virgil’s own experience, whether in connection with his own farm or with those of his friends…”(Williams). He ultimately died on September 21, 19 BC.

Cultural [Rachel Huston] The culture of ancient Rome greatly influenced Virgil. It known that one of Virgil’s teachers “was the Epicurean Siro, and the Epicurean philosophy is substantially reflected in his early poetry but gradually gives way to attitudes more akin to Stoicism” (Williams). This greatly influenced young Virgil, as well as his own experiences. Virgil based many of his works off his own experiences as well as friends. One of his works, The Aeneid is “considered the pinnacle of classical Latin literature”(“Virgil” sacred-texts). With this in mind, it can be concluded that culture had greatly influenced him if it is the “pinnacle” of any works during that time. Virgil was also known to have “ had few intimate friendships”(“Virgil” sacred-texts). With this, it limited the amount he was directly influenced by other people. With both Virgil’s influences and experiences, he proved to be a very valuable writer of early Rome, which impacted him greatly.



Audience [Harrison Schonbrun] Virgil was an italian poet who wrote a small number of poems throughout his lifetime. He wrote 3 major poems the Bucolics, the Georgics, and the Aeneid. Virgil was popular in Rome so popular in fact, that his poem the Aeneid was Rome's national epic. He was trained to be a literary master. Virgil underwent a large amount of academic training in his life “At age 5 he was sent to Rome to learn Rhetoric, medicine, philosophy, and astronomy”(Poetry Foundation 1). The tale shows the pressure put upon young boys in Rome and this was the audience Virgil had to write too .he had to use all of his his training to try and write to one of the most educated of all nations. Virgal was a well connected figure soon enough and his works started to become more important as people like Maenius. He was so popular in fact that “Virgil's renown as a writer was so great that even when he had only just begun working on the Aeneid, rumors of the text prompted Sextus Propertius to prophesy that "Something greater than the Iliad is born"(Gradesaver 1). The influence of Virgil was widespread and this shows how great he was in the eyes of his culture. His audience was Rome, and they loved him. Virgil writes to his audience and seems to tell them his view on Roman history, this was an advantage to him in his day since he could use it to gain influence, and to make his stories greater and grander.

Aim [Harrison Schonbrun] Virgil was an amazing political mastermind. The purpose behind his writing was to court his himself and wealth.The New York times said that “ A papyrus has been found at Piso's house, which has Virgil's name as one of the speakers in Philodemus dialogue”(Levi Peter 1). Virgil was in fact a quote politician, he never let his feeling be shown except for in rare moments. Virgil glorified the Roman empire. Several of his books were taught in schools and were used as political propaganda. “His act of patriotic myth-building gained him the praise of the Emperor Augustus”(Sacred texts 1). This shows how he used his skills in order to gain power, his books courted the emperors of Rome and that was Virgil's aim. He glorified heros that Rome loved, and wrote about the greatness of modern heros to Rome. That was Virgil's story, he wrote for the emperor and for his nation.

works cited Williams, Robert Deryck. "Virgil (Roman Poet)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 27 Aug. 2014.

biography of Virgil (70 BC-19 BC)." Biography of Virgil. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2014.

"Virgil." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2014.

Levy, Patrick. "Virgil His Life and times." Newyorktimes.com. The New York Times, Web.

Virgil." Virgil. Sacred Texts., n.d. Web. 26 Aug. 2014.