War in the Aeneid || with Complete Solutions.
Natural imagery and war correct answers Virgil had seen Italy torn apart by civil war, and this
theme is reflected by images of trees and rivers being destroyed by storms and raging torrents
(Book 1)
Dichotomy correct answers Virgil presents a dichotomy in his depiction of war; it seems
simultaneously a source of glorious heroism, and of barbaric death and suffering
Is it inevitable that Virgil glorifies war? correct answers The Aeneid is a reinterpretation of
Homer, and it is therefore natural, and almost inevitable, that war is to some extent glorified just
as in the Iliad
'No man could speak of such things and not weep' correct answers This passage from Book 2
shows the distress and pain of war. The agonised language illustrates how traumatic the story is.
Aeneas acknowledges that all of the warriors were profoundly affected and scarred, not just the
Trojans
Book 2 quote - pain of war correct answers 'No man could speak of such things and not weep'
Aristotle in the Seventh Book of the Politics correct answers He criticises the states that have
lived for war and conquest, and maintains that war cannot be regarded as a reasonable object for
any state - this same doctrine could be implicit in the latter part of the Aeneid
Seneca on anger quote correct answers 'This emotion is wholly disturbed and consumed within
an assault of grief, raging with a scarcely human desire for arms'
Aeneas and furor, Book 2 correct answers Aeneas behaves in the manner of an epic hero who,
overcome by furor, cannot bring his emotions under control. Thus, Seneca's description of anger
has a starkly familiar look
Aeneas at the crossroads correct answers During the fall of Troy, Aeneas is at a crossroads; he is
neither the Homeric hero the reader expects, nor is he a clear picture of a Roman ideal. His
passions disrupt his ability to function according to his responsibilities
War in Latium correct answers The war which is fought by Aeneas has been undertaken
reluctantly and with no purpose of conquest: it is directed always to the aim of securing peace,
both for his own people whom he wishes to see quietly settled in Italy, and for his Latin
opponents whom he has no wish to subdue
Aeneas's direct comment on the tragedy of war quote, Book 11 correct answers 'The same grim
destiny of war calls us away from here to weep other tears'
'The same grim destiny of war calls us away from here to weep other tears' correct answers This
is a direct comment from Aeneas himself about the tragedy of war. He understands that it is not
, the glorifying phenomenon that Homer can make it out to be. For all the epic's preoccupation
with war, in actuality, some of the characters find it somewhat meaningless
Diomedes quote, Book 11 correct answers 'Do not urge me to take part in any such battle'
Diomedes - 'do not urge me to take part in any such battle' correct answers He firmly advises
against the war, expounding that it is a bad idea to fight against fate and reminding the Italians
that the Greeks only won the Trojan War due to the favour of fortune. He suffered so much in the
past war, and does not want to relive its destruction
Latinus and war quote, Book 11 correct answers 'We are fighting a misguided war, fellow-
citizens, against unconquerable heroes and the sons of gods'
'We are fighting a misguided war, fellow-citizens, against unconquerable heroes and the sons of
gods' correct answers Latinus is deeply concerned by Diomedes' words. He could come across as
weak, but in reality, the war is impossible for them to win as no human can override the will of
the gods
Why does Aeneas pursue war? correct answers He pursues war not for the sake of despotism, but
for the mutual peace and goodwill of the governed
Turnus as a foil to Aeneas correct answers Serving as a counterpart to Aeneas, Turnus appears to
have no higher end than conquest and victory. He lives for fighting and profits by fighting; we
are told that he has won many cities by war and seems likely to win Lavinia and Latinus's
kingdom as his reward
Turnus quote, Book 7 correct answers 'The lust for battle raged within him, the criminal madness
of war and, above all, anger [...] the peace was violated'
Turnus and the attraction of kleos quote, Book 12 correct answers 'Allow me to barter my life for
glory'
Turnus in the inception of Book 12 correct answers The attraction of kleos overwhelms him,
highlighting how he values his honour over his life. This could show that Turnus is driven by
purely personal motives, with no element of public interest
War as a common theme summary correct answers War is a theme which is common to both the
Homeric and the Roman epic: Aeneas' war is set in the Homeric age, with its action being largely
modelled on the Homeric pattern, but Aeneas himself is more of a Roman character - he is
invested with the Roman qualities of fortitude, devotion to duty and political sagacity, and he
uses his victory to unite the Trojan and Latin peoples in a statesmanlike peace
In Book 2, Virgil portrays the Greeks' manner in the Trojan War in a very different way to that
of the Trojans correct answers There is heavy emphasis placed on the Greeks as the perpetrators.
For example, Aeneas depicts Sinon as a relentless liar and trickster, who employs deceit and
disreputable means
