Virgil's Aeneid reading group (in translation)

What is the course about?

With the Aeneid, the baton of ancient epic is passed from Homeric oral poetry to the literary, politically charged world of Rome. It tells the story of the Trojan hero Aeneas and his journey across the sea to found a new home for his people in the land of Italy, a home which will, many years after Aeneas’ own time, become the great empire of Rome; now, in the poet’s own time, united after years of civil war by the governing influence of its new emperor, Augustus.

It discusses many universal truths still relevant today: what makes a hero? How do we choose between duty and love? And how do we deal with the world’s seemingly unstoppable forces of chaos and violence?

Discover this unique and exciting text in Shadi Bartsch’s muscular new verse translation, vital for understanding the nature of Rome and Roman contemporary literature, but also for much of the literary canon which follows and is influenced by it.

What will we cover?

Each week we will read and discuss passages from Virgil’s Aeneid, covering the text roughly chronologically but zooming in on different themes each week. These may include the role and influence of the Iliad and the Odyssey on Virgil’s text, the way Virgil responds to the political contexts of his time, and the role of women in the text. We will also discuss issues of translation and interpretation.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Locate Virgil’s epic in its literary and political context, with a basic knowledge of key developments.
• Contribute to a discussion on the main themes from his text.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an introductory reading group, which will set Virgil’s Aeneid in the context of the classical Roman world: it is designed to be accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so little prior knowledge of ancient Greek or Roman history is needed. However, it will involve reading sections of Virgil’s epic in English translation and discussing them, so a GCSE-level grasp of reading and speaking English is recommended.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The invitation will be to read the whole Aeneid, either before the class or between the sessions (if you read 3 chapters, or ‘books’, between each session, you’ll cover the whole thing). Additional articles, reading matter, resources etc. will be provided.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

We will be reading Shadi Bartsch’s translation of The Aeneid, published by Profile Books (ISBN: 9781788162685) An e-book version of the text is available.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Any other Ancient Literature classes. Please ask your tutor for advice or see our website.