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The Aeneid book summary
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An in depth exploration of the Aeneid from themes to thinking questions this document has every book detailed thoroughly for your exams
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AENEID reference guideThe sections given to each book are from the online A. S. Kline version; the line numbers are
not exactly always the same as those from the Penguin Classics – David West translation, so
bear that in mind.
The following list is designed to show which themes appear in which books, and what kind of
thinking each book lends itself to. You are welcome to take it and amend it, add to it or
change it in any way fit for you.
Note that some lines overlap on to various themes, and can be used to tackle questions on
more than one theme.
Fate, Destiny, and Prophecy are often used interchangeably in this guide.
If you want to quickly find something in this guide, press Control + f, then type what you’re
searching for.
The Books
1. Storm and Banquet
2. The Fall of Troy
3. The Wanderings
4. Dido
5. Funeral Games
6. The Underworld
7. War in Latium
8. Aeneas in Rome
9. Nisus and Euryalus
10. Pallas and Mezentius
11. Drances and Camilla
12. Truce and Duel
,Book 1 – Storm and Banquet
Sections:
Proem (lines 1-11)
The anger of Juno (lines 12-49)
The storm (lines 50-169)
Aeneas makes land (lines 170-222)
The Council of the Gods (lines 223-305)
Aeneas and Venus (lines 306-409)
Carthage (lines 410-579)
Aeneas revealed (lines 580-end)
Themes:
Proem. (1-11)
Destiny (21-24, 234-240, 255-297 Roman future)
Gods. (24-49 (strife/enmity between gods, 50-80 hindering Aeneas, 123-158 Neptune
countermanding Juno’s commands, 223-305 gathering, 298-305 helping Aeneas, 306-409
Venus talks with Aeneas, 657—722 Venus contriving to make Dido fall in love with Aeneas)
Rich descriptions (81-158 the storm, 158-170 Libyan coast, 695-730 splendour of the
palace)
Pathos (93-102 Aeneas lamenting and fearing, 458-468 remembering Troy, 598-610
speaking to Dido)
Leadership (198-209 encouragement speech)
Flashback and retardation of the plot (340-368 Dido’s backstory, 469-495 Trojan war
mosaic/image)
Disguise (401-409 Aeneas resents Venus’ disguise, 411-585 Aeneas and his comrades were
disguised during this section, 657-722 Cupid disguised as Ascanius Iulus )
Cities (410-457 Carthage under construction)
Dramatic irony (437-440 Aeneas comments on Carthage’s construction, which is to be
defeated by Rome, 711-722 the ‘plague’ that Dido would be a victim to)
Dido (596-609 beautiful and founding Carthage, 561-579 receives Aeneas)
Thinking:
,Neptune calms the sea (123-158) and saves Aeneas – compare with his wrath against
Odysseus. Also allusions to Odysseus’ wanderings (200-203).
Comparison: the help that Aeneas receives from Venus vs the help that Odysseus receives
from Athena. Also the intervention of Cupid to help make Dido fall in love with Aeneas vs
Hermes helping Odysseus become immune to the spell/drink of Circe.
Structure of the Book: has a divine level, then Venus speaks with Aeneas, then Aeneas is
with his mortal Trojans. Divine down to mortal plane – compare with similar structure of the
first Book of the Odyssey: Council of the gods – Athena and Telemachus – Telemachus on
his own.
The character of Dido and Aeneas, both individually and in comparison (e.g. both have had
sufferings, 596-631).
Comparison: Dido’s hospitality for Aeneas vs Odysseus’ hospitality at the hands of Calypso,
Circe, the Phaeacians, and Eumaeus.
Remember:
“Tyrians” is another name for the Carthaginians, since they left from Tyre (a Phoenician city-
state in modern-day Lebanon (eastern coast of the Mediterranean).
The Penates: the gods of Aeneas (‘brought’ from Troy).
Ascanius = Iulus (Aeneas’ son).
Book 2 – The Fall of Troy
, Sections:
Aeneas’ proem (lines 1-12)
Greek gifts (lines 13-57)
Sinon’s digression (lines 58-199)
The punishment of Laocoon (lines 200-269)
Battling through the streets of Troy (270-468)
The death of Priam (lines 469-558)
Helen and Venus (lines 559-633)
The escape from Troy (lines 634-end)
Themes:
Proem (1-12)
Fate and prophecy (50-57 man is not able to go against Fate, 200-228 Laocoon’s death –
who had warned the Trojans in 40-49, 229-249 Trojans disbelieving Cassandra’s prophecy,
342-346 Coroebus had ignored Cassandra’s prophecy, 432-435 it was not fated for Aeneas to
die in Troy, 680-706 miracle that fated the survival of Anchises’ family, 737-747 and 777-
789 Aeneas losing his wife Creusa due to Fate,
Cunning (13-57 the Trojan Horse, 58-199 Sinon’s lie, 250-269 Trojan horse at night in a
sleeping city – literal and metaphorical, 390-401 Trojans taking equipment from dead Greeks
to confuse the Greeks,
Retardation of the plot/digression (58-199 Sinon’s story)
Rich descriptions (200-228 the death of Laocoon by sea serpents, 355-369 fighting in the
burning Troy, 436-452 the desperate fighting at Priam’s palace, 469-507 fighting inside
Priam’s palace,
Gods (200-228 Athena’s serpents kill Laocoon, 590-621 Venus intervened to check Aeneas’
furor, 610-625 the Gods aiding the Greeks in sacking Troy,
Dream (270-298 Hector appears before Aeneas)
Furor (317-318 Aeneas’ anger prepared him to die fighting in Troy, 407- 413 the frenzy of
Coroebus, 568-589 seeking revenge against Helen,
Pathos (355-369 the fall of ancient Troy and slaughter therein, 508-558 King Priam’s last
moments, 634-649 the lament of Anchises, 650-672 the desperation of Aeneas,
Pietas (650-729 Aeneas taking his father and son out of Troy,
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