Book IV

Book IV is an important book in the Aeneid. It contains the famous love story

between Aeneas and Dido, Queen of Carthage. Dido discusses her dilemma and

issues with Anna who encourages her to pursue Aeneas. Juno and Venus decide

the couple's fate, or so they think, until Jupiter sends Mercury to rectify the

situation. Aeneas decides to leave, and the heartbroken queen commits suicide.

Questions

1. Dido has several conversations in this book with Anna. Who is this Anna?

2. Dido tells Anna that the memory of her dead husband Sychaeus is holding her

back from pursuing Aeneas. Anna's answer is to pursue Aeneas. Reread lines

42-75, and list as many reasons as you can that Anna gives Dido for following

her advice. (approx. 7 or 8)

3. Book IV contains a famous simile of the love-stricken Queen Dido roaming

around the city distraught. To what is Dido being compared?

4. What happened to the construction of Carthage because Dido was consumed

with love for Aeneas?

5. Briefly describe Juno's plan on how Dido and Aeneas may be brought together.

6. Venus knew Juno's plan was a trick. The intended purpose of the plan was to

bring Dido and Aeneas, Tyrians and Trojans, together into one nation. What was

the real purpose of Juno's plan?

7. Aeneas and Dido go hunting. In the section of the preparations for the hunt.

Vergil compares Aeneas to the god _____________?

8. At the end of the hunting trip, Dido and Aeneas arrive in the same cave. What

causes them to go there?

9. What happens in the cave between Aeneas and Dido, and what does Dido call

it? How do you suppose Aeneas feels about it? Remember, it says that Dido is

burning with passion and love for Aeneas. It doesn't say how Aeneas feels

about her.

10. Rumor, a giant swift bird, immediately spreads the news about Dido and

Aeneas. Describe what each feather of this bird looks like, and tell what each

characteristic is used for. Every feature has a purpose.

11. Who is extremely upset and jealous when he hears the news of Dido and

Aeneas? Why does he care?

12. Jupiter sends Mercury to tell Aeneas to leave Carthage, if not for his own sake,

then for the sake of ________?

13. Aeneas plans to tell Dido he is leaving, but Dido finds out first. How?

14. In a tirade Dido blames faithless Aeneas for leaving her. What does she say

could ease the pain of his leaving?

15. Whom does Aeneas blame for his sudden departure?

16. Dido yells that she hopes his ship crashes in a reef, that she will haunt him

when she is dead, and that he will pay for this. Then what happened?

17. In another famous simile, Aeneas' men preparing the ships to leave are

compared to ________?

18. Who goes many times to Aeneas to plead with him to stay in Carthage?

19. Dido asks Anna to build a pyre. It is intended to be Dido's funeral pyre. What

does Dido tell Anna she intends to burn on it?

20. When Dido is alone she mulls over her three options on what could be done in

her current situation. What does she decide are her three options?

21. Whom does Dido blame for the present circumstances?

22. Before she is ready to die, Dido curses Aeneas. What is Dido's curse on

Aeneas?

23. Dido also demands that future generations of Tyrians will always hate future

generations of Trojans. What historical event is Vergil foreshadowing?

24. What does Dido use to kill herself?

25. Whom does Juno send to cut off a lock of Dido's hair? Why did this have to be

done?