The Aeneid - Vivid Narrative by Virgil

Q) How successfully does Virgil make the narrative in Passage 2 vivid?
Virgil successfully makes passage 2 vivid in many different ways. The passage is split into two paragraphs, the first being more intimate and at a slower pace, and the second being faster paced and much more violent. The beginning of the passage is where Virgil sets the scene, describing the location of the palace as ‘under the naked vault of heaven’, and this implies that the gods are watching and can see everything that is happening. He then describes the laurel tree as ‘leaning over it and enfolding the household gods in its shade’. This makes the passage vivid as it creates contrast with what the audience know is going to happen, and creates anticipation, as the palace is described as a peaceful setting, but we know that this will not last for long. Virgil then goes on to describe Hecuba and her daughters who ‘were sitting flocked round the altar, like doves driven down in a black storm’. Here many narrative techniques are used to increase the vivid nature of this passage, such as a simile which causes contrast i.e. the doves which represent purity are used in combination with ‘black storm’, and this suggests that they are in mortal danger and the use of the word storm foreshadows the idea of chaos occurring throughout the passage. Alliteration is also used, ‘doves driven down’, which is forceful and hard hitting making the situation more vivid for the audience. Priam is then identified as putting on his ‘youthful armour’, which makes contrast in the passage, as Priam is an older man, and knows that he cannot save Troy, but he will try his best. It creates pathos for the audience, and shows that he wants to die a Homeric death, creating a more vivid passage. The passage continues then with direct speech, with Hecuba attempting to talk her husband, Priam, out of fighting, as he won’t be much help. Throughout the direct speech, rhetorical questions are used by Hecuba, and this makes it more...