
Through understanding the themes,
language features and symbols we can
comprehensively evaluate and discuss
Book One.
Some Key Characters
Venus
Dido
Jupiter
Juno
1.
She loved the city
of Carthage and
had heard that
descendants of
Trojans would one
day destroy it.
Juno
2. She had fought for
the Greeks
(Argos) against
the Trojans in the
Trojan War.
The Causes of
Juno’s Fury (toward
Aeneas
Aeneas
and the Trojans)
3. In an episode known
as The Judgement
of Paris, a Trojan
prince called Paris
had judged Venus
to be more
beautiful than her.
4. She was jealous of
Ganymede
(another Trojan
prince), who had
been chosen as
Jupiter’s cupbearer.
Task: Underneath these notes, write the quotes from the text that
relate to each.
Aeneas will rule Latium for 3
years before he is
succeeded by his son
Ascanius (Iulus)
“Then shall out furious
centuries lay down their
warring arms…[the] Gates of
War shall shut….”
Ascanius will rule for 30
years from Alba Longa
“He [Aeneas] shall live until
the 3rd summer looks on his
reign…Ascanius…shall
complete in royal power….”
Romulus will found the city of “…coming weighted with
Rome 300 years later.
the spoils of the Orient.”
The Romans will rule the
world forever.
“Of proud descent from
Troy, one Caesar… a Julius”
Augustus Caesar’s family
(the Julians) are descended
from the Trojans.
“For thirty long years…he
shall build Alba Longa.”
Augustus will bring riches to
Rome.
“To Romans I set no
boundary in space or time”
Augustus will be worshipped.
“He also shall be invoked
[called on] to listen to
prayers.”
Augustus will bring peace to
the world
“Kings shall reign for a period
of 300 years… Then shall one
Romulus…build battlements
of Mars”
Aeneas and Achates meeting Venus disguised as a Huntress
Pietro de Cortona, 1650
Dido’s Story
(as told by Venus – pg.39)
Task: Read the story of Dido’s escape from Tyre, as told by Venus to
Aeneas. Summarise the story in your own words in a paragraph.
Question: What
does this story
show about Dido’s
character?
CARTHAGE*
* TYRE
Venus and Cupid scheme – Dido falls for
Aeneas
Tasks:
1.
Briefly outline the plan that Venus
has for Cupid.
2.
Why does Venus come up with this
plan?
Dido’s Character in Book 1 – (pgs 38-50)
Describe the character of Dido as shown in Book One of Aeneid. Use a star
diagram to show the different aspects of her character, giving evidence
from the text for each aspect.
DIDO
This theme is established in the
beginning, so that it underlines the
activities of Aeneas and other
characters.

The meaning: Rome
rules the Mediterranean
world because it is fated
to do so and has the
support of the gods.

Create a mind map which discusses how
the idea of Rome's destiny is further
developed in the Venus and Jupiter
scene.

Fate ensures that eventually Aeneas will
found the Roman race. This is
demonstrated through Jupiter’s speech
to Venus (Bk I) “Unshaken stand thy
children’s destinies”
GOOD
BAD
What other characters in Bk 1 are
effected by fate?
 Give further examples from Jupiter’s
speech which demonstrate fate is
working in the Aeneid.


In Book One Aeneas
is portrayed as a
refugee with his
fellow Trojans.
Eventually he
becomes the hero
that the Romans
regard as their
ancestor.
Summarise Aeneas’ travels in Book One.
In Book One Aeneas has just departed
Sicily and is sailing the Mediterranean sea. It
ends with him in Carthage.
 How is the theme of ‘finding one’s self’
portrayed in Book One?



Book One mentions war by invoking
images of the Trojan War, the characters
in the text have all been affected by
war; Aeneas and his companions are
refugees of war.
Create a picture diagram of how war is
depicted in Book One
 Find a quote from Book One about war.
 “In war till much enduring” (line, 7)
 “from the blood of Troy a race was
rearing” (lines 18-19) …

› Loss of boats in the storm.
“Far scattered over all the main he sees
Aeneas’ fleet, he sees the Trojans whelmed
Beneath the waters and the fallen sky”
(lines128-130)
Between the gods and fate. An aspect of
this is also divine intervention.
 Activity: Give examples from Bk I which
show how this theme is portrayed.

INSTRUCTIONS: find six different language
features in Book One and examples from the text
and discuss the effect.
Language
feature
Example
Effect
Alliteration
“So saying, and swifter than that Gives the
word, he smoothes the swelling impression of the
waters” (line 142)
sea calming.

The main image is the storm.
› Virgil compares the storm to an assembly
“Meanwhile of ocean made one roaring mass”
(line123).

Virgil’s similes are frequently developed and
have multiple comparisons. This technique
is known as ‘multiple correspondence’.
These similes create an extend image.

The repetition of words emphasise
aspects of importance to characters,
such as ‘furor’ when discussing Aeneas.
, fervidus
furens
trepidans

Adjectives are used to give further
meaning to the subject.

The eagle: “Jupiter’s eagle” shows that it was an act of
a god or shows that the storm was part of the divine
plan approved by Jupiter.

The twelve swans: “The twelve swans pursued by an
eagle are both an omen and a metaphor for Aeneas’
fleet”.
The swans represent Aeneas’ fleet who have been
safely swept to the shore of Carthage or are soon to
reach it.
Physical symbols – wild animals, forces of
nature, hunting.
 Abstract ideas/symbols- such as
personified rumour and panic or
mythical items.

Book One is written in the epic style.
 Similar to Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

o Invokes a muse in the prologue BUT unlike
Homer who in the Odyssey invokes the muse
immediately, Virgil initially emphasises his
presence as the narrator “I sing” before
calling upon the muse.