The book that I mentioned that uses the concept of the homosocial to talk about literature, though not classical literature in particular, is E. Sedgwick. 1985. Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire. New York: Columbia University Press.
As I mentioned last time, there are a few particular things that I want you to do with the reading for next time. As you read, try to develop answers to each of the following questions:
(1) In each reading what assumptions do you think the author is making but not explicitly stating?
(2) The readings assigned do not necessarily aim to provide a general interpretation of the Aeneid (even if the larger work from which they have been exerpted does so). Based on the selection that you read, what do you think the author's overall "take" on the poem is?
(3) To what extent do the viewpoints represented bespeak a certain understanding of the modern reader's task in approaching ancient literature? For example, does an author assume that we should reconstruct the likeliest "original" interpretation? the author's intended meaning? contemporary (for us) relevance?
(4) Do political issues in the lifetime of the four authors appear to have contributed to these debates over the political stance of the Aeneid?
(5) Of the four required readings, which do you find most compelling and why?
Both of the optional readings are useful too, so if you do have extra time (stop laughing!) you'll want to read them.
I've mentioned this article in class a few times but haven't, until now, had the precise reference handy. A copy will (shortly) be on reserve in the CNES library:
R. Hexter, "What Was the Trojan Horse Made of?: Interpreting Vergil's Aeneid." Yale Journal of Criticism 3.2: 109-31.
Although this article is specifically directed to passages in Aeneid 2, it is also useful on the idea of puzzles within the poem generally--that is, as Hexter sees it, there are passages of the poem that are structured in such a way that they call out for interpretation. (Other examples are the hesitating Golden Bough and the gates of sleep passage, both in Bk. 6.)
In class, we'll pay particular attention to Aeneid 6.14-41 (the ecphrasis of the temple doors); we'll also talk about ecphrasis in general. Some suggested readings:
Putnam, M. C. J. 1998. Virgil's Epic Designs: Ekphrasis in the Aeneid. New Haven. 75-96. A version of this appeared as "Daedalus, Virgil, and the End of Art" AJP 108 (1987) 173-98.
A useful point of departure for theoretical considerations of ecphrasis is
Fowler, D. 1991. "Narrate and Describe: The Problem of Ekphrasis." JRS 81: 25-35. Reprinted in D. Fowler, Roman Constructions: Readings in Post-Modern Latin (Oxford 2000) 64-85.
Here is fuller information on sources for Greek and Roman myths:
Roscher = Ausfuerliches Lexicon der griechischen und roemischen Mythologie (multiple volumes, starting in 1884-)
Preller-Robert = Griechische Mythologie (4th edition 1894, Robert's revision)
LIMC = Lexicon iconographicum mythologiae classicae (multiple volumes)
Another work that is sometimes useful is
StithThompson = Motif-Index of Folk-Literature (6 vols.).
There is a copy of Roscher in the CNES library. LIMC can be found in Wilson Library reference. I don't think that the University owns a copy of Preller-Robert, but there are copies of Preller's unrevised Griechische Mythologie and Roemische Mythologie (in the CNES library and also in the Wilson annex, where a number of older things is kept--if you go for them in person, you'll have to do it during the day when they're open.) Stith Thompson is also available in Wilson reference.
The other work we discussed, not necessary as useful for Vergilian scholarship as for other things (like teaching a myth class) is
Reid, J. D. The Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1300-1900s (Oxford 1993). This is a 2 volume work. There is a copy next to Roscher in the CNES library.
Here are three more works that touch on Aeneid 3, some of which were mentioned in class:
Bright, D. 1981. "Aeneas' Other Nekyia." Vergilius 27: 40-7.
Moskalew, W. 1988. "The Cyclops, Achaemenides, and the Permutations of the Guest-Host Relationship in Aen. 1-4." Vergilius 34: 25-34.
Nelis, D. 2001. Vergil's Aeneid and the Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius. Leeds.
The following book may be helpful in following up verbal repetitions from one part of the poem to another:
Wills, J. 1996. Repetition in Latin Poetry: Figures of Allusion. Oxford.
Will's index is especially useful.
I want to point out a few other helpful articles on Aeneid 3 in addition to those (required and optional) listed on the syllabus:
Hardy, C. S. 1996. "Antiqua mater: Misreading Gender in Aeneid 3.84-191." CJ 92.1: 1-8.
Hershkowitz, D. 1991. "The Aeneid in Aeneid 3." Vergilius 37: 69-76.
Lloyd, R. B. 1957. "Aeneid III and the Aeneas Legend." AJP 78: 382-400.
Quint, D. 1982. "Painful Memories: Aeneid 3 and the Problem of the Past." CJ 78: 30-38.
The purpose of this blog, at least for the moment, is to annotate individual class sessions. In other words, it's an easy way for me to add information (bibliographical refs., URLS, etc.) that is either not available by Tuesday evening or that just takes up class time. Occasionally, I may use the blog as a way of getting people to think about specific question, passages, etc. in advance of our meeting.