Plot
Book 1:
The Trojans, seven years after the fall of Troy, are just off the coast of Sicily. Juno is
determined that they shouldn’t reach their destination and sends a storm to blow them off
course to the North African coast. They arrive in Carthage- Juno’s favourite city. Venus
complains to Jupiter about her son’s suffering. He reassures her that Aeneas will reach Italy
and his descendants will rule the world. Venus sends Cupid to make Dido fall in love with
Aeneas
Book 2:
Aeneas tells the story of the fall of Troy. Sinon had tricked the Trojans into bringing the
wooden horse into the city, and the Greeks entered the city and slaughtered Priam. Hector
appeared to Aeneas in a dream, telling him to leave. Aeneas escaped with Anchises and
Ascanius. His wife, Creusa, was lost. Her ghost appeared to him and told him that his future
was with a new wife in Italy
Book 4:
Dido gives into her love for Aeneas and thinks they will build a city together, but he gets a
message from Jupiter, reminding him of his mission. He puts his duty above his love and
leaves. She is in despair and kills herself
Book 6:
Aeneas visits the Sibyl at Cumae so to get a prophecy from Apollo and to visit Anchises in the
underworld. He talks to several ghosts, including Dido and Palinurus, before meeting his
father, who shows him the Roman heroes who are waiting to be born. This makes him want
to carry on his mission
Book 7:
The Trojans arrive at the Tiber and receive a sign to say that they have reached their
destination. King Latinus welcomes them and wants his daughter to marry Aeneas. Juno
intervenes and inspires Amata, Latinus’ wife, to object to the marriage. Juno causes Turnus
to be consumed with anger and war breaks out
Book 8:
Aeneas leaves the Trojan camp to seek help from Evander, who lives in Pallenteum- a town
on the site of Rome. When Aeneas arrives, Evander and his son Pallas are celebrating
Hercules’ destruction of the monster Cacus. Evander shows Aeneas the city and sends Pallas
to fight alongside the Trojans. Venus brings Aeneas new armour, including a shield which
depicts Octavian and the battle of Actium
Book 9:
Aeneas is away, and Turnus attacks the Trojan camp. Nisus and Euryalus set out at night to
try and get a message to Aeneas, but both are killed. Turnus breaks into the Trojan camp, but
eventually escapes without doing much damage
,Book 10:
Aeneas returns with Pallas. Pallas is killed by Turnus, who takes off the sword belt and wears
it himself. Aeneas rages over the battlefield, killing many in revenge, including Lausus and his
father Mezentius
Book 11:
Both sides bury their dead. Pallas’ body is taken back to Evander. Drances proposes that
Turnus should face Aeneas alone, but the battle continues. Camila joins the fighting but is
killed
Book 12:
A truce is agreed so that a single combat can take place between Aeneas and Turnus. With
help from juturna, Turnus’ sister, the truce is broken and fighting ensues. Latinus’ city is
attacked, Amata commits suicide, and Turnus prepares to meet Aeneas alone. Juno makes a
deal with Jupiter- she will stop interfering if the new race adopts Italian, not Trojan customs
and Jupiter agrees. Aeneas wounds Turnus, who begs for Mercy. Aeneas notices that he is
wearing Pallas’ belt and kills him
Literary Techniques
Parallels:
Book 2 destruction of Troy, book 8 birth of Rome
book 6 future revealed and Aeneas receives his mission, book 12 future assured and he
achieves it
book 1 and book 2, arrival in a strange land and friendly reception
Narratorial intervention:
Begins poem with prayer to Muse, Erato in book 7 and Calliope in book 9
Address to a god lifts narrative from human to divine
“What god could unfold all this bitter suffering”
Draws attention to himself, “if there is any power in my poetry” Nisus and Euryalus will be
remembered
Points out irony- Turnus taking Pallas’ belt “he will bitterly regret”
General aside, Dido “who can deceive a lover”
Flashbacks:
Book 2 to the fall of Troy
Increases the tragedy
Overlaid with Aeneas’ knowledge of the final outcome
Gives a precise perspective- see what he saw
Questionable motives- is telling Dido the story
Theme: Cities
Exiles and the founding of cities:
, Rome referred to explicitly
Book 1, Aeneas tells his men that Troy “shall rise again”, book 2, Hector tells Aeneas to look
for a new city to build, book 4, Aeneas explains to Dido that he has to go found a new race
but would rather rebuild Troy
Visit to Pallenteum in book 8:
On the site of future Rome
Cultural references to the city- Capitol, Aventine, Carmental Gate, Asylum, Lupercal and
House of Tarpeia
Comparison to Augustan Rome as well
References to Rome:
Ghostly heroes in book 6 “training chariot teams”- Campus Martius in Rome
Book 6, Aeneas says he will build a temple to Phoebus- similar to Augustus temple of Apollo
on palatine hill
Theme: War and peace
Nature:
Trees and rivers being destroyed by storms and raging torrents
Simile of ash tree to destruction of Troy
Idyllic picture of flowing river said by Creusa in book 2
Pyrrhus rushing to destroy Troy like a river with burst banks
Book 1, storms as angry “brawling”
Images of Greek tragedy:
Dido rushing through the streets like a Bacchant
When Aeneas leaves, she rages like Orestes being pursued by the furies
Helen and Amata described as pretending to be bacchants
Rumour runs like a bacchant after Dido’s death
Theme: Young people
Marcellus:
Book 6, Death of younger Marcellus in 23BC aged 19, adopted by Augustus as heir two years
previously
Grief and tears, “old fashioned truthfulness” “he began to speak through his tears” “this is
the greatest grief that you and yours will suffer”
Pallas:
Book 8, Aeneas asked by Evander to adopt Pallas “our hope and our comfort” “admire you
from his earliest years” Aeneas as a role model
Book 10, “young Pallas stayed close” to Aeneas, asks lots of questions about stars and the
course they were going
Says he will treat Halaesus’ body with respect, pious
Shows leadership- alongside Aeneas.
