The Aeneid: Book 1 events

What does the proem establish?

Themes of fate and piety

Why is the city of Carthage significant to the contemporary Roman audience?

It was founded by exiles from the twin towns of Tyre (Phoenician) and Sidon in the Middle East. Its name would have stirred the contemporary Roman audience because under Hannibal in the 3rd century BC.

It had remained an implacable enemy until Rome savagely wiped it out in 146BC.

How did Virgil portray Carthage? How would contemporary Roman audiences reacted?

As a civilised society and Dido as a figure inspiring much sympathy.

This would have surprised the audience since Carthage was traditionally Rome’s barbaric enemy.

What were the 3 reasons for Juno’s anger towards the Trojans?

a) Juno’s love of Carthage which the Romans are destined to destroy

b) the ‘Judgement of Paris’ where Juno was not awarded the prize apple

c) Ganymede, a Trojan prince, was Jupiter’s cup-bearer and Juno was jealous of the attention he recieved

How does the action in the book 1 start?

in media res= with the Trojans already 7 years into their journey from Troy, a fact we learn later in the poem

Why are the Trojans happy at the start of Book 1?

They are on what they hope if the final part of their journey after leaving Troy

How does Juno feel about the Trojans getting so close to Italy, the end of their journey? What rhetorical devices does she use to express this

She is angry.

Rhetorical Question: ‘Am I to admit defeat and give up my attempt to keep the king of the Trojans away from Italy?’

Exemplum: If Athena could punish the Lesser Ajax for his violation of her priestess, Cassandra, why can’t she punish her enemies?

How does Juno persuade Aeolus ‘Keeper of the Winds’ to send a storm against the Trojans? What does this tell us of Juno’s character?

a) Bribes him with her fairest nymph

b) She is manipulative and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. She is also petty

What is Aeneas’ state of mind when we first meet him in the Aeneid?

He is wishing that he would have died at Troy and had proper burial rites (a noble heroic death) rather than in this storm.

The poem’s first epic simile likens Neptune’s calming of the storm to a statesman quelling a riot: what is the political allusion behind this simile?

Echoes what Augustus was doing in Rome

What alternative name is given to Aeneas’ son? What is the significance of this name?

Ilus

All the Romans called Julius descended from him

To what historical event is Virgil alluding to when he says the ‘House of Assaracus will reduce…’?

Conquest of Greece by Rome

Under what circumstances did the Romans close the ‘Dread Gates of War’?

Peace throughout the Empire

What message is Virgil looking to put across here to his contemporary audience?

Augustus= Bringer of peace

Give one similarity and key difference between Aeneas’ mission and that of Dido

Both leading people to a promised land

Dido has succeeded while Aeneas is not even close

What Temple does Aeneas marvel at before the arrival of Dido?

The Temple of Juno at Carthage

What do the decorations of the Temple of Juno depict?

Scenes from the Trojan War e.g. Troilus (If he reaches manhood, Troy will never fall) , Penthesilea (Amazon queen echoes Dido)

What connects all the scenes within the Temple other than the Trojan War? What does this say about Virgil’s attitude to war?

a) It focuses on losers

b) futility of war (it causes suffering)

To whom is Dido likened when she first appears?

Diana

Although Aeneas has been warmly welcomed by Dido, Venus is still worried. What two reasons does she give?

A) She doesn’t trust the ‘double-tongued people of Tyre’

b) She is worried about Juno’s hatred of the Trojans

Venus has Cupid trick Dido into falling in love with Aeneas. How does Virgil put across that young god’s cruel streak?

His cruel mimicry of Iulus’ walk and his laughing

How does Virgil create (and regularly recreate) a mood of foreboding?

Dido is regularly referred to with the epithets ‘doomed’ or ‘unfortunate’

What is Dido’s joyous hope for the people of Carthage and the Trojan survivors? What is ironic about this wish?

A) ‘Grant that this day may be a day of happiness’ She wants the Trojans and Carthaginians to join forces

B) Will later wish for ‘war between the nations’