Literary analysis Aeneid Book 4
Line
Quotation
Analysis
1
“iamdudum”
(long-since)
Immediate reference to how she has suffered in the past and thus that her pain has been prolonged
2
“vulnus alit venis”
(nourished the wound with veins)
Vulnus is emphatically placed at the start of the line, and this vivid and slightly gruesome description adds a seriousness to the tone, with the idea that Dido is physically wounded by her feelings. “Alit” is effective as the idea of her feeding her own wound is the first suggestion of her inner-conflict; she is wounded and yet she doesn’t want it to go away. It’s as if this description is suggesting the strength of her feelings to be such that they’re having a physical effect on her.
2
“caeco carpitur”
(consumed by hidden (fire))
Harsh alliteration hear helps build a dark and foreboding tone, as combined with the violent image of the all-consuming nature of her love, the reader is concerned for her health should it continue. Gives her love a will of its own; uncontrollable.
2
“igni”
(fire)
The use of a metaphor of such a violent/ destructive and uncontrollable thing to represent her love is effective here. It builds the impression of her feelings being utterly out of her control, as if they are just happening to her, an impression also effectively portrayed by the choice of the passive verb “‘carpitur”.
4
“recursat”
(reccured)
Emphatically at the end of the line, draws attention to how utterly transfixed Dido is by everything about him.
4
“viri virtus”
(the valour of the man)
Alliteration draws attention to the hyperbole/exaggeration in the description of Aeneas’ greatness. This description echoes what we imagine to be going through Dido’s mind, augmenting the idea of Dido’s feelings as obsessive verging on unhealthy.
4
“vultus verbaque”
(his expression and words)
Obsessive nature of her feelings further displayed, as she hangs on such details as his every expression and word.
4
“haerent infixi”
(remains fixed)
Quotation
Analysis
1
“iamdudum”
(long-since)
Immediate reference to how she has suffered in the past and thus that her pain has been prolonged
2
“vulnus alit venis”
(nourished the wound with veins)
Vulnus is emphatically placed at the start of the line, and this vivid and slightly gruesome description adds a seriousness to the tone, with the idea that Dido is physically wounded by her feelings. “Alit” is effective as the idea of her feeding her own wound is the first suggestion of her inner-conflict; she is wounded and yet she doesn’t want it to go away. It’s as if this description is suggesting the strength of her feelings to be such that they’re having a physical effect on her.
2
“caeco carpitur”
(consumed by hidden (fire))
Harsh alliteration hear helps build a dark and foreboding tone, as combined with the violent image of the all-consuming nature of her love, the reader is concerned for her health should it continue. Gives her love a will of its own; uncontrollable.
2
“igni”
(fire)
The use of a metaphor of such a violent/ destructive and uncontrollable thing to represent her love is effective here. It builds the impression of her feelings being utterly out of her control, as if they are just happening to her, an impression also effectively portrayed by the choice of the passive verb “‘carpitur”.
4
“recursat”
(reccured)
Emphatically at the end of the line, draws attention to how utterly transfixed Dido is by everything about him.
4
“viri virtus”
(the valour of the man)
Alliteration draws attention to the hyperbole/exaggeration in the description of Aeneas’ greatness. This description echoes what we imagine to be going through Dido’s mind, augmenting the idea of Dido’s feelings as obsessive verging on unhealthy.
4
“vultus verbaque”
(his expression and words)
Obsessive nature of her feelings further displayed, as she hangs on such details as his every expression and word.
4
“haerent infixi”
(remains fixed)