Kehoe, Patrick E.  “Was Book 5 Once in a Different Place in the Aeneid?”  American Journal of Philology 110.2 (Summer 1989): 246-263.

Summary:

Patrick E. Kehoe, in his article of the above title, argues that the position of Book Five in the Aeneid is excellently placed to integrate the whole epic.  He claims that modern readers appreciate the chronological, geographical, and historical order that Book Five gives to the Aeneid.  However, several scholars have argued that this book creates inconsistencies in the epic, and the contents of this book were not originally placed between Books Four and Six.  They further claim Book Five was not written until after Book Six was finished.

Kehoe begins his article with explanations of the positions of scholars who argue that Book Five is inconsistent with the epic as a whole.  He then condenses their theories to five main arguments and analyzes each of them.  He notes the conflicts which arise when each theory is examined, and also the implications which follow from each theory.  For example, he concludes that if the five theories are held to be true, then the Trojans’ journey to Cumae, Italy (transition of Book 5 to 6) is entirely deleted from the epic.

Upon studying each of the five theories of his opponents, Kehoe summarizes the points he made which support his view.  He also discredits alternative locations for Book Five within the epic.  It is here Kehoe states that Book Five was originally placed between Books Four and Six and presents arguments for this theory.  He supports his arguments with the points he made discrediting the earlier theories of his opponents.

Analysis:

I was fascinated to find theories existed which questioned the placement of Book Five within the Aeneid.  Having just read the epic, I found Book Five to be a splendid transition between the fourth and sixth books by linking the events between Carthage and Italy, and preparing the reader for Aeneas’ descent to the Underworld.  I thereby concur with Patrick E. Kehoe’s opinion that Book Five never occupied a place different from its current one.

The theory that Book Five either did not appear in order in the original epic, or that the contents of Book Five were scattered throughout the first six books, poses an important question: where would the contents of Book Five have appeared?  The first possible alternative is Book Five appeared after Book Three.  If this were the case, the actual funeral of Anchises would have to be added, and the games of Book Five would immediately follow his funeral.  Also the death of Palinurus and the apparition of Anchises to Aeneas in the dream would have foreshadowed Book Six too early.

The second alternative is the contents of Book Five would have to be narrated during Aeneas’ retelling of the events which carried them to Carthage in Books Two and Three.  Then, the events of Book Five would have had to occur after Book Three and before Book One since Anchises’ death occurs in Book Three.

After reviewing these points, I firmly believe the present position of Book Five is where Virgil had originally intended it for two reasons.  First, the fifth book serves to carry the reader chronologically and geographically from Carthage to Cumae, Italy (Kehoe also argues that there is additional historical implications involved).  In the beginning of Book Five, Aeneas is seen sailing away from Carthage.  He then lands in Sicily in Acestes’ kingdom and declares the first anniversary games of his father’s death.  This distinctly contradicts the theory that the games immediately followed the funeral.  Aeneas and his crew are now seen to embark once again towards Italy and the reader has followed time and land from Carthage to Italy.

Secondly, the fifth book is needed in its present place to prepare the reader for Aeneas’ descent to Hades.  In Book Five, three events serve this purpose: the reflection of Dido’s death, the dream Aeneas has of his father, and the death of Palinurus.  Most important is the dream which Aeneas receives detailing instructions for his descent.  Hence, the reader is well prepared for Book Six where Aeneas meets Dido, Palinurus, and Anchises.

I support Patrick E. Kehoe’s theories of the present position of Book Five, and have tried to summarize my opinions of this belief.  I feel that this topic would have made excellent class discussions on other placements of the book, and ideas or examples from the Aeneid which support or reject Kehoe’s theory.

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