Book Presentations
Aeneid, Book 8 Presentations
As you read book 8 of the Aeneid in translation prepare a presentation on your assigned topic. Each topic has two people but you do not work as partners in anyway but as competitive rivals (like Pullo and Vorenus). Extra points (genuine bonafide extra credit) for use of Latin words, phrases, concepts. Here is the whole Latin text at the Latin Library:http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/vergil/aen8.shtml
Some general notes for all topics:
-Book 8 involves a journey, descriptions of landscape and hospitality (Xenia), like Book One
-Book 8 is concerned with the topography of Pallanteum, the future site of Rome.
-Book 8 is filled with rituals concerning the worship of various goods
-Book 8 ends with an especially fat ecphrasis of Aeneas’ new shield on which is depicted the battle of Actium and other events from the Roman historical experience.
-Book 8 is thick with Augustan references.
-Book 8 has much in common with book 6 (katabasis).
Haec tibi agenda sunt: Email with questions. Due Wednesday, May 6. Value 100 points.
Prepare a 10 minute presentation that is detailed and precise. Use Caesar’s style as a model. You may use “powerpoint” for images and Latin words, phrases, and quotations.
Prepare a 1-2 page handout that summarizes your analysis and provides textual evidence to support you ideas. Come to class with copies made for each student (15).
Topics for Rabbits: There will be some over lap with some of these topics. I have written some questions or comments for each which are not intended to be exhaustive.
1) Aeneas in Book 8. How is our Proto-Roman hero presented by Vergil from beginning to end? What relationships does he develop? How does he interact with other characters and the gods? What does he achieve and learn on this journey?
2) Ecphrasis of Aeneas’ New Shield. What is depicted on the shield? What events from Roman history are included on the shield? How is the battle of Actium depicted? Augustan references? Achilles’ Shield in the Iliad.
3) Topography of Rome in Book 8. How does the fictional topography of Evander’s Pallanteum reflect Augustan Rome? How does book 8 give meaning to place as crucial to the Roman experience?
4) Narrative and allegorical role of the Gods: Saturn, Venus and Vulcan. In what ways are Venus and Vulcanus involved in the events of book 8? How are Vulcan and his craft as blacksmith presented by Vergil? Remember the aetas aurea of Saturn which is emphasized here and is crucial to the 4th Eclogue.
5) Vergil’s Depiction of Evander and his son Pallas. Xenia (Guest-Host relationship) is important here. There are also Augustan references What values does Evander represent? Father-son theme of Aeneid.
6) Cacus and Hercules: How does this story fit into the heroic paradigm and the events of the second half of the Aeneid? How is Hercules presented as a hero? What allegorical meanings can be drawn from this story. For what is this story an Aetiology?
7) Book 6 and 8 Parallels: In what ways does book 8 reflect or parallel book 6 regarding themes, narrative structure, events, prophecy, Roman history, and Aeneas?
8) Roman Rituals and Worshiping the Gods. Augustus and Virgil have great interests in Roman rituals in honour of gods. What rituals are presented and what is their meaning and function? There may be aetiologies involved? Juno and white sow. Hercules and the Ara Maxima. Role of Aeneas?
.Latin AP 2012-3 Presentations for Sexy Caesar in Translation - De Bello Gallico, Book One, Six & Seven
A. Instructions for those not presenting: Read the book or assigned chapters carefully and know it in detail. You may wish to read and reread significant episodes. You will have a quiz on the details, especially people, events, and Caesar’s presentation of himself, his leadership, his soldiers and the Gauls. These quizzes are worth 50 points.
B. Instructions for the presenters:
Provide the class with a concise but detailed chapter by chapter outline of the text in the form of a handout. You should include quotations from particularly significant episodes.
Take the class through book chronologically and provide informed analysis of historical events and Caesar’s presentation of these events.
Gallic peoples and their leaders encountered in the book should be explained and put in historical context.
You may wish to create a visual presentation using into images, quotations and maps where appropriate.
Make sure that your presentations address the following questions, topics and issues: 1) Caesar presentation of himself and his leadership; 2) Caesar’s use of speeches; 3) Significant geography; 4) Caesar’s portrayal the Gauls and/or Germans; 5) The veracity of Caesar’s account; 6) Caesar’s relationship with his soldiers; 6) Other significant issues in the book.
1) Sir Raleigh/Heather Rabbit
2) Gurgi, Gurgi, Gurgi/Matthew the Monkey
3) Selena and Annie V.
4) Woman of Brian and Maddie of King and Queen
5) Abigail and Swati.
6) Lucas and the Ruml
7) Lucy and Carrie
Outline of the Bellum Gallicum
Scholars debate when Caesar wrote his Commentaries. One appealing theory is that he—perhaps with the help of staff—wrote and published each book individually while settled in winter-quarters. Such timing would have allowed Caesar to report his campaigns to the Senate and, more importantly, respond immediately to less favorable or accusatory reports spread by his political enemies.
Book 1 (58 BC): Campaign against the Helvetians. Campaign against Ariovistus.
Caesar departs from the province of Transalpine Gaul, where he is currently governor, to stop the migration of 368,000 Helvetians from Helvetia, modern Switzerland, to western Gaul. Caesar then turns his forces against Ariovistus and the Germans in Eastern Gaul and drives them across the Rhine river, the customary boundary between the Gauls and Germans.
Book 2 (57 BC): Campaign against the Belgians.
The Belgian Gauls amass forces to resist the Romans, and Caesar marches toward them. The Remi, a Belgic tribe, agree to assist Caesar. The fighting that ensues, particularly with the Belgian Nervii, is among the fiercest in the entire Gallic War. The Romans emerge victorious.
Book 3 (56 BC): Campaign against the Veneti
As troops under Servius Galba fend off attacks by Gauls in the Alps, the Veneti, a tribe in northwest Gaul on the coast of the Atlantic, seize and imprison Roman envoys. Caesar’s response is to fight the seaworthy Veneti on the Atlantic ocean, capture their fortresses, and execute their leaders for seizing the Roman envoys. In the meantime, the quaestor Marcus Crassus defeats the Aquitani to the south.
Book 4 (55 BC): Caesar Bridges the Rhine. First Expedition to Britain
The Suebi along with other Germanic tribes, the Usipetes and Tencteri, venture west across the Rhine into Belgian territory to avoid the fierce Germanic Suevi. After negotiations, Caesar repulses the Germans, builds a bridge to span the Rhine within ten days, and after brief skirmishes returns to Gaul. In late August, Caesar makes his initial expedition to Britain.
Book 5 (54 BC): Second Expedition to Britain.
After landing in Britain unopposed, he proceeds inland and fights with Britons under the leadership of Cassivellaunus. After Caesar subdues Cassivellaunus at Kent , he returns to Gaul. On account of low grain supplies, the Romans settle into scattered winter-quarters, which are subsequently attacked by the Gauls. While the forces under the the legates Titurius and Cotta are overwhelmed by the leader Ambiorix, those under Cicero and Labienus prevail over the Nervii and Treveri respectively.
Book 6 (53 BC): Expedition to Germany. Customs among the Gauls and Germans.
As Labienus defeats the Treveri, Caesar assists Cicero’s camp and pursues Ambiorix and the Eburones. He briefly crosses the Rhine river to prevent Ambiorix from receiving assistance from the Germans, but Amborix continues to elude the Romans. Caesar describes the organization and customs of the Gauls, the religion and warfare among the Germans, and the animals found in the Hercynian forest in Germania.
Book 7 (52 BC): The Gauls Rally and Fall under Vercingetorix
The Gauls rally under the leader Vercingetorix. After several seiges and battles, Caesar beseiges Vercengetorix and the main Gaul force at Alesia. When the Gauls eventually surrender, Vercgetorix is led to Rome, where he will eventually be led in chains and executed to celebrate Caesar’s triumph.
Book 8 (51 BC): Written by Aulus Hirtius, a legate of Caesar, possibly after Julius Caesar’s death, the book details how Caesars quells small uprisings and rewards loyal Romans and Gauls with gifts