Virgil was undoubtedly very well-read: he had a deep knowledge of the epics of Homer and Ennius, as well as a myriad of other Greek and Roman poets. In this lecture, we shall look at the way that Virgil refers back to the literary tradition and what the effect of this is. In particular, we shall investigate Virgil’s intertextual use of earlier epic poets, as well as the way in which he infuses other genres, such as tragedy and erotic poetry into the Aeneid.

Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Virgil was undoubtedly very well-read: he had a deep knowledge of the epics of Homer and Ennius, as well as a myriad of other Greek and Roman poets. In this lecture, we shall look at the way that Virgil refers back to the literary tradition and what the effect of this is. In particular, we shall investigate Virgil’s intertextual use of earlier epic poets, as well as the way in which he infuses other genres, such as tragedy and erotic poetry into the Aeneid. Copyright 2014 Rhiannon Evans / La Trobe University, all rights reserved. Contact for permissions.

Virgil’s Iliad? Epic Intertextuality

This subject explores Ancient Roman epic poetry, the literary genre which deals with grand mythical narratives involving heroes, gods, war, and love affairs. 

Epic was the most prestigious literary form in the ancient world. Roman poets adapted and developed Greek epic, particularly influenced by the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey. Roman epics similarly deal with divine and heroic material, but Roman poets also weave contemporary and topical themes into the mythical subject matter. 

The primary text for this subject is Ovid's Metamorphoses, which tells many comic tales of the gods in love and encounters between heroes and monsters through a series of transformations. 

Epics which influenced Ovid will also be studied, such as the Greek epics of Homer, the early Roman epics of Naevius and Ennius, and Virgil's Aeneid, which was the most significant influence on Ovid. We shall also consider Ovid as a major influence upon Western artists and writers, from Shakespeare to David Malouf.

Education

This subject explores Ancient Roman epic poetry, the literary genre which deals with grand mythical narratives involving heroes, gods, war, and love affairs. Epic was the most prestigious literary form in the ancient world. Roman poets adapted and developed Greek epic, particularly influenced by the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey. Roman epics similarly deal with divine and heroic material, but Roman poets also weave contemporary and topical themes into the mythical subject matter. The primary text for this subject is Ovid's Metamorphoses, which tells many comic tales of the gods in love and encounters between heroes and monsters through a series of transformations. Epics which influenced Ovid will also be studied, such as the Greek epics of Homer, the early Roman epics of Naevius and Ennius, and Virgil's Aeneid, which was the most significant influence on Ovid. We shall also consider Ovid as a major influence upon Western artists and writers, from Shakespeare to David Malouf.

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Virgil’s Iliad? Epic Intertextuality

Virgil’s Iliad? Epic Intertextuality

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