What

For my capstone project, I will be translating select passages of Virgil’s "The Aeneid" into literal English prose, then reworking my translation into a cohesive retelling of the original poem. I chose this project because "The Aeneid" was the first Latin work I have read that captured my attention and invested me in its story. I want to share that experience with other young people who may find it difficult or cumbersome to read older translations of the poem and those who do not read Latin. The success of books like Rick Riordian's "Percy Jackson", or Madeline Miller's "Song of Achilles" shows that modern readers still enjoy Classical myth. However, many readers will never know how much they enjoy these stories because of how inaccessible modern translations of original works can be. In its formal English, "The Aeneid" loses readers who would otherwise be captured by its story. I hope to address this issue by reworking Virgil's masterpiece into a digestible, casual piece that helps other students like me develop an interest in Classical stories.

So What

I chose my capstone topic when I took Intermediate Latin 2. Our readings for that semester were all pulled from the Aeneid, and I fell in love with the story. After deciding my goal was to make the Aeneid more accessible to my peers, coming up with a game plan was simple. I needed to fully translate the work and research the period in which it was written to appreciate Vergil’s writing fully, and then put my own twist on it. Working through this translation has already affected my Latin abilities. Translating is getting faster and faster, and I have had a growing love for the poetry of that period. This process has been incredibly exciting because it's allowing me to share one of my favorite books with other college students. At times the grammar and syntax are very discouraging, and even the very scope of the project can be overwhelming, but with every paragraph I translate I am more and more in love with this project.

Now What

The entirety of my project requires me to incorporate previous learning experiences. I have been taking Latin at Texas A&M since my first semester here, and all of those classes are being used in my translation of the Aeneid.

I believe the project will prepare me for the future by refining my translation skills, which will aid me greatly if I succeed in getting into a graduate program for Classical Studies.

I think this project is extremely relevant to the growing interest in Classical literature that started in the mid-200s. One only needs to go to their local Barnes&Noble and see their Classical retellings section to see that it is a topic that is steadily growing. I am hoping that this rise in popularity is reflected in growing Classical Studies programs in secondary school so that I will have a growing job market.