10 questions on plot, characters, and themes. Free to take, so you can see exactly what to review before class.
1. What event causes Aeneas's fleet to be scattered and driven toward North Africa at the beginning of the poem?
2. During Aeneas's account of Troy's fall, what does he carry on his back as he escapes the burning city?
3. Why does Aeneas leave Carthage and Dido, despite being in love with her?
4. What does Dido do after Aeneas sails away from Carthage?
5. In the underworld, how does Dido respond when Aeneas tries to apologize to her?
6. What is the primary reason Turnus goes to war against Aeneas in Italy?
7. What event triggers Aeneas to kill Turnus in a rage at the end of their single combat?
8. Which theme does the poem explore through Aeneas's repeated choices to abandon what he desires?
9. What does Virgil suggest about the founding of Rome by ending the poem with Turnus's death rather than with celebration or a wedding?
10. What does Anchises show Aeneas in the underworld, and what is its effect on him?
0 of 10 answered
How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.
