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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of the Aeneid varies throughout its 12 books. While the poem's central themes of fate, piety, and war keep the mood generally intense, it sometimes leans more tragic and at other times leans more lively. Through the shifting, complex mood, Virgil sustains the reader's engagement over the course of the epic poem.
Because the poem follows a main character known for his piety and sorrowful past, the mood often feels somber. Aeneas repeatedly dwells on the loss of his wife Creusa and his father Anchises—not to mention the fall of Troy and his expulsion from his homeland. In addition, he takes his fate, which other characters frequently remind him of, very seriously. Knowing that he's destined to found a glorious city, he perseveres through great struggles and challenges. Aeneas's painful past and heroic destiny combine to sustain the poem's overall intense mood.
In addition, Virgil's narrator dwells on several tragic events—most notably the desperation and ensuing suicide of Dido in Book 4. In this book, perhaps the poem's most tragic, Virgil suggests that following one's fate may involve painful, destructive outcomes. By listening to the gods and obeying his fate, Aeneas causes immense suffering to Dido and her people.
At the same time, the poem also contains moments in which the mood feels happier and lighter. In much of Book 5, for example, the narrator recounts the funeral games that Aeneas and the Trojans host in honor of Anchises. Although the contests involve intense competition and riveting scenes, the mood feels more lively and lighthearted than most of the poem. And although the fighting scenes in Books 10-12 are more intense than the contests, the mood in these last three books at times also feels intense in a lively—rather than a tragic—way, as the characters and narrator get swept up in the thrill of battle.
Related Themes:
