The AeneidThe Aeneid

Book 1Book 1

Why is the first book of the Aeneid Why is the first book of the Aeneid important?important?

It sets the scene by giving the time and It sets the scene by giving the time and the place of the talethe place of the tale

Most of he main characters are Most of he main characters are introduced. You meet Aeneas and Dido, introduced. You meet Aeneas and Dido, and the gods Jupiter, Juno and Venus.and the gods Jupiter, Juno and Venus.

You are introduced to the mixture of You are introduced to the mixture of legend, history and the timeless legend, history and the timeless supernatural world of Fate and the gods supernatural world of Fate and the gods that together make up the poem.that together make up the poem.

Why is the first book of the Aeneid Why is the first book of the Aeneid important?important?

It indicates the plot. The hero is It indicates the plot. The hero is trying to reach Italy, but it is by no trying to reach Italy, but it is by no means certain that he will succeed.means certain that he will succeed.

The main themes are introduced. The main themes are introduced. Aeneas is a man with a divine Aeneas is a man with a divine mission, driven by Fate to establish mission, driven by Fate to establish in Italy the race that will found in Italy the race that will found Rome and rule the world.Rome and rule the world.

ThemesThemes The themes are given by Virgil in the beginning The themes are given by Virgil in the beginning

of the poem:of the poem:

1) War, the terrible strife caused by the god Mars1) War, the terrible strife caused by the god Mars2) Fate, and its forcing of a good man, Aeneas into 2) Fate, and its forcing of a good man, Aeneas into

exile. His duty as an agent of fate/destiny in the exile. His duty as an agent of fate/destiny in the establishment of the roman race and nationestablishment of the roman race and nation

3) Divine conflict, caused by the goddess Juno’s 3) Divine conflict, caused by the goddess Juno’s unrelenting hatred of the Trojans, and its unrelenting hatred of the Trojans, and its resolutionresolution

4) Aeneas’ long labours, his wandering and 4) Aeneas’ long labours, his wandering and troubles on land and at seatroubles on land and at sea

5) The founding of the Roman nation, and the 5) The founding of the Roman nation, and the Roman race. The succession of Aeneas’ line to Roman race. The succession of Aeneas’ line to Augustus.Augustus.

6) Roman Imperialism and Patriotism/ Rome’s 6) Roman Imperialism and Patriotism/ Rome’s world mission/The many amazing achievements world mission/The many amazing achievements of Romeof Rome

7) Human suffering and the rancour of the gods7) Human suffering and the rancour of the gods

What happened to Dido What happened to Dido before we meet her?before we meet her?

Dido has been married to Sychaeus, Dido has been married to Sychaeus, but her brother killed her husband. but her brother killed her husband. So she left her homeland, Tyre, and So she left her homeland, Tyre, and migrated with companions to Africa migrated with companions to Africa where she was building Carthage.where she was building Carthage.

What event at the end of What event at the end of Book 1 skillfully leads into Book 1 skillfully leads into

Book 2, and the tale of Book 2, and the tale of Aeneas’ adventures?Aeneas’ adventures?

Dido gives a banquet to welcome the Dido gives a banquet to welcome the Trojans and asks Aeneas to tell his Trojans and asks Aeneas to tell his story, which he does in book 2.story, which he does in book 2.

The meeting of Dido and Aeneas The meeting of Dido and Aeneas and the welcome Dido gives and the welcome Dido gives

Aeneas have been manipulated by Aeneas have been manipulated by Juno, Jupiter and Venus. What part Juno, Jupiter and Venus. What part

does each play?does each play?

Juno caused the storm which blew Juno caused the storm which blew Aeneas’ fleet to Africa, p.32.Aeneas’ fleet to Africa, p.32.

Jupiter sends Mercury to make sure Jupiter sends Mercury to make sure Dido welcomes Aeneas, p.36.Dido welcomes Aeneas, p.36.

Venus makes Dido fall in love with Venus makes Dido fall in love with Aeneas to make extra certain Dido Aeneas to make extra certain Dido won’t harm him, p.47won’t harm him, p.47

The role of the The role of the gods in book 1gods in book 1

GodGod ActionAction MotiveMotive ResultResult

JupiterJupiter

JunoJuno

VenusVenus

NeptuneNeptune

MercuryMercury

CupidCupid

The role of the gods in book 1.doc

Character of Aeneas in Book 1Character of Aeneas in Book 1Skim through the book and write notes Skim through the book and write notes on Aeneas character each time we see on Aeneas character each time we see him. Explain what he is thinking and him. Explain what he is thinking and doing and feeling and what each event doing and feeling and what each event shows us about his character. You are shows us about his character. You are very likely to be asked questions on his very likely to be asked questions on his character, and his character character, and his character development throughout the whole poem development throughout the whole poem in the exam.in the exam.

For exampleFor example

Eg. The first time we see Aeneas is in the middle Eg. The first time we see Aeneas is in the middle of a storm that Juno has inflicted on him. We of a storm that Juno has inflicted on him. We expect him to be brave in such danger but expect him to be brave in such danger but instead he is terrified and afraid, and wishes he instead he is terrified and afraid, and wishes he had died in Troy when a Greek warrior almost had died in Troy when a Greek warrior almost killed him. He says he is Jealous of those who killed him. He says he is Jealous of those who did get to die. This shows that Aeneas is a did get to die. This shows that Aeneas is a normal human who is weak and gets scared normal human who is weak and gets scared rather than an all-powerful superman. Aeneas rather than an all-powerful superman. Aeneas his done his best for seven years through his done his best for seven years through disaster after disaster and is nearly at the end disaster after disaster and is nearly at the end of his tether.of his tether.

In the StormIn the Storm Landing on the coast of AfricaLanding on the coast of Africa Killing StagsKilling Stags investigates the landinvestigates the land Conversation with VenusConversation with Venus Seeing Carthage being builtSeeing Carthage being built Visiting the temple to Juno and seeing Visiting the temple to Juno and seeing

Images of the Trojan warImages of the Trojan war Seeing his friends from the Trojan war againSeeing his friends from the Trojan war again

Appearing out of his cloud and addressing Appearing out of his cloud and addressing Dido and the crowdDido and the crowd

Missing his son and Instructing Achates to Missing his son and Instructing Achates to get items for the boatget items for the boat

Talking to Dido at the banquetTalking to Dido at the banquet