From Vergil s Georgics, Book I ( Trans - 1715 Words

2. From Vergil’s Georgics, book I (trans. A.S. Kline 2001) The Georgics is a poem in four books by Latin poet Virgil. The subject of the poem is agriculture; but rather than be about idyllic rural life, there is tension and difficulty. The title is a fitting one, as it is derived from the Greek word georgika, which means â€Å"agriculture† (Perseus Project). The poem is on the subject of early man living off the land, only to have Jupiter (The Roman name for Zeus) add considerably more difficulties in rural life which in turn forces man to adapt or die. The reason for this being is that man must develop skills to survive the harsh wilderness in order to become worthy inhabitants of the land the gods gave them. Essentially, it is survival of the fittest. The poem is crafted with deliberate tension. Of chief importance is the contribution of labour to the success or failure of mankind’s endeavors, agricultural or otherwise. The poem is didactic, and is composed in hexameters, additionally the poem is modeled in a similar manner to Hesiod’s Works and Days. Hesiod’s poem shares similar themes to Georgics, it emphasizes man’s relationship with the land they live on and the importance of hard work to ensure survival. Both poems are didactic, which is a way of writing that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities. This comes as unsurprising as both writers promote labour and emphasizes its importance for achieving a comfortable life. There