Book I

This is a very important book in the Aeneid. The main purpose of the

whole story is introduced, the story of founding of the Roman race. You

are also introduced to the idea of the gods and goddesses influencing

and controlling the action of the story. If you look at the structure closely,

the paragraphs alternate between man and the gods. Juno favors the

Carthaginians, while Venus favors the Trojans. The conflict between

these goddesses is a major part of the action. You are also introduced to

the concept of in medias res, in the middle of things. The action begins in

the middle of a storm, seven years after Aeneas and his followers, Trojan

survivors of the Trojan War, have left Troy in search of their new home in

Latium. They arrive in the city of Carthage, after surviving the storm, and

are welcomed by Queen Dido, who at a banquet asks Aeneas to tell them

all about the Trojan War (Book II), and their adventures getting to

Carthage (Book III). Finally at the beginning of Book IV the action returns

to the present. The events of the past seven years are revealed by the

technique known as flashback.

Answer the following questions about Book I.

1. Juno has been striving to keep the Trojans from reaching their new

home in Latium for three reasons. What were they?

2. How do the gods and goddesses influence the storm which almost

destroys Aeneas' fleet? Include Juno, Aeolus, Deiopeia, and Neptune.

3. Who tells Venus the future history of the Roman race until the time of

Julius Caesar? (From Vergil's point of view, it is very easy to write

prophesy when you already know how the events turned out.)

4. Venus, disguised as a young girl, meets Aeneas, her son, and

Achates, his best friend, on the road to Carthage and tells them the story

of Dido, Sychaeus, and Pygmalion. Who are these people, and what is

their story?

5. When Aeneas and Achates arrive in Carthage, no one harms them as

strangers. Why not?

6. As they wander around Dido's city, what does Aeneas see on the

walls of the great temple?

7. Aeneas is reunited with his lost comrades, and three options for their

immediate future are proposed. What are the Trojans' 3 options?

8. When Achates returns to the ship to fetch Ascanius, Aeneas' son,

Venus launches her plan to control Dido by making her fall in love with

Aeneas. What was this plan?

Answers to the grammar questions and the questions from Book I will be

sent at the end of the week. Bona Fortuna!

Remember, the only way to get something out of this summer work is to

translate, read and answer questions before you look at the answers.