Motifs and Themes in Vergil's Poetry
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directory of the text of Vergil's works or to his
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Song
Summary
A basic conceit of Vergil's poetry is that it is sung. This conceit is
owed partly to the Greek background of Latin culture, partly to
the generic conventions of epic poetry. It is also related to the fact
that the Romans frequently heard poetry recited, if not actually
sung; but it is also true that certain effects in Latin poetry, and
particularly in Vergil, depend on the visual experience of a written text.
The motif of song thus expresses a desire for continuity with earlier
Greek culture and an ironic awareness of the different media in
which poetry can be appreciated.
Greek Background
The Archaic and Classical Periods
Earlier Greek poetry was regularly composed and experienced
as song. We know something about the music to which this poetry was set,
and even possess a few fragments of musical scores. The musical part of a
composition (meter, mode, instrumental accompaniment, number of
performers, etc.) varied, as did many exclusively "literary" factors,
according to genre. Epic was evidently sung or chanted by a single
performer who accompanied himself on a harp. Homer represents a number of
epic performances, and the language in which he speaks of his own poetry
is the language of song.
The Hellenistic and Roman Periods
Hellenistic poetry treats the idea of song as a convention. This is not
to say that this poetry was never performed; but most of the poetry we
have was evidently produced for a readership rather than for an
audience. Some actually insists on its specifically literate character.
Latin Poetry as Song
Before Vergil
Song in Vergil's Poetry
The Eclogues
The Georgics
The Aeneid
Vergil's Contemporaries
Many of Vergil's contemporaries also use this motif, as do many later epic
poets.
After Vergil
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the Vergil Project
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