Chapter IX

FORM AND SUBJECT OF THE AENEID.
I. Purpose of the Aeneid and motives determining the 295-300
form of the Poem
Literary motives of the poem 295
Motive originating in the state of public feeling 296
" " in the position of Augustus 297
New problem in literary art presented to Virgil 298
The Aeneid the epic of the national fortunes 299
II. Adaptation of the legend of Aeneas to Virgil’s 300-310
purpose
Adaptation of the legend of Romulus to a poem founded 300
on national sentiment
Deficiency of the legend of Aeneas in national and 301
human interest
Greek origin of the legend 301
Its late reception among the Romans 303
Vague and composite character of the legend 304
Grounds on which Virgil’s choice was justified 305
Connexion of the legend with the Homeric cycle of events 305
Its recognition by the State for more than two centuries 306
Connexion with the glory of the Julian family 308
Largeness of scope afforded by the vagueness of the legend 309
Adaptation to a poem representative of Rome in the 309
Augustan Age
III. Composite character of the Aeneid illustrated by 310-324
an examination of the Poem
Twofold purpose of Virgil in composing the Aeneid 310
Native and Greek sources employed by him 310
Prominence given to his double purpose in the 311
statement of the subject of the poem
This double purpose traced in the details of the action 313
" " " in the ‘Inferno’ and in the ‘Shield
of Aeneas’ 323
The Aeneid a new type of epic poetry 324