How does Sinon deceive the Trojans in lines 57-144 of Virgil's Aeneid? An exercise in practical criticism.

The portion of Book II of the Aeneid beginning at racecourse 57 and ending at line 194, in which Sinon convinces the Trojans that the beechen cavalry should be brought inside their walls, is a masterful exhibit of deceit. We shall see that Sinons skill consists in constructing a story that is glib in its portrayal of human psychology, appealing to Trojan prejudices, and inherent of pathos, and telling it in a way that is suspenseful, flattering to his audience, and subtle and forceful in language. His general method is to involve and extinguish the Trojans in his tale to such an extent that any raw cynicism is suppressed. The episode can be divided into two halves. In the first half, Sinon leads the Trojans through a series of responses - first mockery, thence curiosity, then kindness, then pity - in an effort to tot up their trust. In the second half, Sinon uses this trust to convince them that the Trojan buck should be brought inside their walls. In this essa y, I shall focus on the first half of the episode (lines 57-144) and trace the narrative advancement of Sinon, elucidating its efficacy, and commenting on notable language as it occurs. Sinon begins his tale with fictive despair: his first word is Heu and using anaphora of quae he lends his lamentation rhetorical force.

Moreoever, the extended vowel sounds (quae me aequora), elision and preponderantly spondaic scansion convey a mournful tone. A upside dog implies the inferiority of the asker, and so by phrasing his laments as rhetorical questions, Sinon asserts his helplessness in the face of fate and the Trojan s. Significantly, Sinon gives smallish ver! itable information in his opening words, only mentioning that he was unwelcome among the Greeks (neque apud Danaos) - i.e. he gives the Greek-hating Trojans what... If you want to get a abounding essay, monastic order it on our website: BestEssayCheap.com

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