Virgil’s Aeneid

Drawing from Modules 6-7,1describe and discuss the impact that Virgil’s historical context(his life and times)had upon his epic, the Aeneid. More specifically, formulate and support a thesis of one way in which the epic reflects the historical period in which it was written, providing at least one specific example (direct quote) from the epic in support of your thesis/conclusion.2To set the stage, be sure to give a general (rather than super detailed or in-depth) description of the historical context in which Virgil wrote the epic (including the civil wars and the advent of the Augustan Age), as well asa general description of the narrative or story of the epic itself. See below for further details. Write your paper in MLA format, using in-text citations to name your sources (you do not need to cite my own writing from the modules, provided you sufficiently write the ideas/info received from therein your own voice and words).

Length: between 750-1000originalwords (not including Works Cited or Outline).

Total points: 75 points Points breakdown:
Essay itself: 68pointsWorks
Cited: 3points
Outline 4 points

Your paper must include:
An original title
A highlighted or emboldened thesis
A Works Cited page
A concise Outline of the essay(outlining main sections/points)
At least one direct quote from the Aeneid

Essay organization:
•Introductory paragraph: Introduce the reader to what you plan to discuss in the essay. Be sure to state your thesis clearly and concisely of one way we see Virgil’s historical context reflected in the Aeneid. (An example would be, “One significant event from Virgil’s own historical context that we see alluded to in the Aeneid is the Pax Romana established by Augustus.”) Do not discuss details yet. That will come in the body.

•First Body Paragraph: Setting the stage: Describe Virgil’s historical context.

•Second Body Paragraph: Setting the stage: Concisely describe the central story or narrative of the Aeneid.

•Third Body Paragraph: “Main act” (heart of the essay): Describe and support your claim of one significant way the Aeneid reflects, is informed by, alludes to, or references Virgil’s historical context, illustrating this by quoting a specific passage. Be sure to give the context of the quote (what is happening) within the story, interpret its meaning for the reader, and explain how it supports your claim.

•Concluding Paragraph: Restate your thesis in a more integrated and elaborated way, summarizing your essay. Perhaps end with a concluding thought.

*Note: If you’re wondering what exactly “historical context” means, it refers to the historical environment or situation that surrounds and informs anything that exists or occurs in history (person, movement, artifact, etc.), the historical “atmosphere” or setting or interrelated conditions in which any given thing exists or occurs. So, in this case, Virgil lived in the Roman world of the 1stcentury BC. So you want to think about Rome and the events of his own time period and how that is reflected in the Aeneid.

*1In Module 6, for Virgil’s 1st-century BC historical context, see primarily the sections “Revolution” and “Augustus”; in Module 7, for Virgil and the Aeneid, see primarily the sections “Augustan Age,” “Virgil,” “The Aeneid,” and “Reading: from Virgil’s Aeneid.” 2The module lesson on the Aeneid discusses some pertinent passages –see also the reading from the Aeneid within the module. You can also explore the full text of the Aeneid, and check out an outline of it to help you grasp and navigacixte the narrative. (see attached materials.)

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