Study Questions for Assignment 1
Aeneid, Book 1
- This is an epic poem, and as in Homer, the opening lines (1-12) give us our subject and theme. What do these opening lines tell us about the coming epic poem?
- In the remainder of the opening section (lines 13-49) we have an epic question and its answer: Why did Juno hate Aeneas/Trojans so much? What reasons does the poet give for Juno's hatred in this section?
- What is the first event Juno causes, in order to hinder Aeneas, and with whose realm is she interfering by doing so?
- In lines 347-398, Jupiter comforts Venus with a prophecy of the future of Aeneas's line. What is the tone of this prophecy (positive/negative, optimistic/pessimistic), what sorts of things will occur in the future,and what is the culmination of the prophecy?
- Beginning in line 424, Venus has an encounter with her son Aeneas. According to her, why did Dido flee Tyre in Phoenicia?
- When Aeneas first comes into Carthage (lines 576 and following), what is the city like?
- What scenes does Aeneas see on the walls of Juno's temple (lines 619-672)?
- In lines 710-757, what does Ilioneus appeal to in Dido to gain sympathy for the Trojans?
- How does Venus begin to trap Dido toward the end of the Book?
- What echoes of Homer (passages, images, events, etc.) do we see in this first Book of the Aeneid?
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