 Through understanding the themes, language features and symbols we can comprehensively evaluate and discuss Book One.

Some Key Characters

Venus Jupiter Dido Juno

1. She loved the city of Carthage and had heard that descendants of Trojans would one day destroy it.

Juno

3. In an episode known as The Judgement of Paris, a Trojan prince called Paris had judged Venus to be more beautiful than her.

The Causes of Juno’s Fury

(toward Aeneas and the Trojans) 2. She had fought for the Greeks (Argos) against the Trojans in the Trojan War.

Aeneas

4. She was jealous of Ganymede (another Trojan prince), who had been chosen as Jupiter’s cup bearer.

Task: Underneath these notes, write the quotes from the text that relate to each.

Aeneas will rule Latium for 3 years before he is succeeded by his son Ascanius (Iulus)

Ascanius will rule for 30 years from Alba Longa Romulus will found the city of Rome 300 years later.

The Romans will rule the world forever.

Augustus will bring peace to the world

“Then shall out furious centuries lay down their warring arms…[the] Gates of War shall shut….”

“He [Aeneas] shall live until the 3 rd summer looks on his reign…Ascanius…shall complete in royal power….” “…coming weighted with the spoils of the Orient.” “Of proud descent from Troy, one Caesar… a Julius” Augustus Caesar’s family (the Julians) are descended from the Trojans.

Augustus will bring riches to Rome.

“For thirty long years…he shall build Alba Longa.” “To Romans I set no boundary in space or time” Augustus will be worshipped. “He also shall be invoked [called on] to listen to prayers.” “Kings shall reign for a period of 300 years… Then shall one Romulus…build battlements of Mars”

Aeneas and Achates meeting Venus disguised as a Huntress Pietro de Cortona, 1650

Dido’s Story

(as told by Venus – pg.39)

Task:

Read the story of Dido’s escape from Tyre, as told by Venus to Aeneas. Summarise the story in your own words in a paragraph.

Question:

What does this story show about Dido’s character?

CARTHAGE* * TYRE

Venus and Cupid scheme – Dido falls for Aeneas

Tasks: 1. Briefly outline the plan that Venus has for Cupid.

2. Why does Venus come up with this plan?

Dido’s Character in Book 1 – (pgs 38-50)

Describe the character of Dido as shown in Book One of Aeneid. Use a star diagram to show the different aspects of her character, giving evidence from the text for each aspect.

DIDO

 This theme is established in the beginning, so that it underlines the activities of Aeneas and other characters.  The meaning: Rome rules the Mediterranean world because it is fated to do so and has the support of the gods.

 Create a mind map which discusses how the idea of Rome's destiny is further developed in the Venus and Jupiter scene.

 Fate ensures that eventually Aeneas will found the Roman race. This is demonstrated through Jupiter’s speech to Venus (Bk I) “Unshaken stand thy children’s destinies”

GOOD BAD

  What other characters in Bk 1 are effected by fate?

Give further examples from Jupiter’s speech which demonstrate fate is working in the Aeneid.

 In Book One Aeneas is portrayed as a refugee with his fellow Trojans. Eventually he becomes the hero that the Romans regard as their ancestor.

   Summarise Aeneas’ travels in Book One.

In Book One Aeneas has just departed Sicily and is sailing the Mediterranean sea. It ends with him in Carthage.

How is the theme of ‘finding one’s self’ portrayed in Book One?

 Book One mentions war by invoking images of the Trojan War, the characters in the text have all been affected by war; Aeneas and his companions are refugees of war.

    Create a picture diagram of how war is depicted in Book One Find a quote from Book One about war.

“In war till much enduring” (line, 7) “from the blood of Troy a race was rearing” (lines 18-19) …

› Loss of boats in the storm.

“Far scattered over all the main he sees Aeneas’ fleet, he sees the Trojans whelmed Beneath the waters and the fallen sky” (lines128-130)

  Between the gods and fate. An aspect of this is also divine intervention. Activity: Give examples from Bk I which show how this theme is portrayed.

 INSTRUCTIONS: find six different language features in Book One and examples from the text and discuss the effect.

Language feature

Alliteration

Example Effect

“So saying, and swifter than that word, he smoothes the swelling waters” (line 142) Gives the impression of the sea calming.

 The main image is the storm.

› Virgil compares the storm to an assembly “Meanwhile of ocean made one roaring mass” (line123).

 Virgil’s similes are frequently developed and have multiple comparisons. This technique

is known as ‘multiple correspondence’. These similes create an extend image.

 The repetition of words emphasise aspects of importance to characters, such as ‘furor’ when discussing Aeneas.

, fervidus furens trepidans

 Adjectives are used to give further meaning to the subject.

 The eagle: “Jupiter’s eagle” shows that it was an act of a god or shows that the storm was part of the divine plan approved by Jupiter.

 The twelve swans: “The twelve swans pursued by an eagle are both an omen and a metaphor for Aeneas’ fleet”. The swans represent Aeneas’ fleet who have been safely swept to the shore of Carthage or are soon to reach it.

  Physical symbols – wild animals, forces of nature, hunting.

Abstract ideas/symbols- such as personified rumour and panic or mythical items.

  Book One is written in the epic style.

Similar to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

o Invokes a muse in the prologue BUT unlike Homer who in the Odyssey invokes the muse immediately, Virgil initially emphasises his presence as the narrator “I sing” before calling upon the muse.