The Aeneid Flashcards
(62 cards)
Who is Aeneas?
The son of Anchises and Venus, chosen to survive the siege of Troy and lay the foundations in Italy for Rome and its empire.
Aeneas serves as a vehicle through which fate carries out its historical design.
What character trait does Aeneas exhibit by respecting prophecy?
He attempts to incorporate the idea of his own destiny into his actions despite emotional impulses that create conflict.
This is evident in his decision to leave Dido.
How does Aeneas demonstrate sympathy towards others?
By delivering speeches to keep spirits high and allowing the crippled and unwilling to stay behind when sailing away from Carthage.
His growth as a leader is depicted in Book 5.
What significant event occurs in Book 6 involving Aeneas?
He visits his father in the realm of the dead, where he observes the unburied dead, showing his compassion.
This moment depicts Aeneas’s growth as a leader.
What does Anchises show Aeneas in the underworld?
The events that will lead to Rome’s pinnacle, providing him with clarity about his mission.
This is reflected in the scenes depicted on the shield made by Vulcan.
What recalls Aeneas to his duty regarding Dido?
An appeal from Jupiter concerning his obligation to his son, Ascanius.
Aeneas loses track of his destiny due to his feelings for Dido.
What epithet is repeatedly used for Aeneas?
Pious Aeneas.
This reflects his commitment to obey fate rather than indulge his personal feelings.
What is Dido’s situation before Aeneas arrives?
She is a confident and competent ruler determined not to marry again to preserve the memory of her dead husband, Sychaeus.
Dido remains focused on her political responsibilities despite personal drama.
How does Dido change after falling in love with Aeneas?
She becomes a victim of Cupid’s arrow, leading to a loss of control and ultimately her frenzied suicide.
Her love for Aeneas compromises her loyalty to her deceased husband.
What role does Dido play in the narrative?
She represents passion and volatility, contrasting Aeneas’s order and control.
Dido’s character illustrates the conflict between love and duty.
What do the women in the Aeneid symbolize?
They represent disorder and emotional instability, often hindering Aeneas’s mission.
This is illustrated through characters like Juno and Dido.
What does Creusa symbolize in Aeneas’s story?
She represents a ‘good’ Roman wife, encouraging Aeneas to move on after her death without holding him back emotionally.
Creusa’s death is necessary for Aeneas to pursue his fate.
What is Lavinia’s role in the epic?
She does not speak and is seen as an object for Aeneas to marry, symbolizing women’s lack of agency.
Her marriage to Aeneas is crucial for forming an alliance.
How is Juno characterized in the Aeneid?
As Aeneas’s nemesis, she embodies elemental disorder, inciting chaos and hindering Aeneas’s journey.
Juno’s actions include causing storms and manipulating other characters.
What does the character of Aeneas represent according to Hans Peter Stahl?
Aeneas represents an ‘unheroic hero’.
This highlights his struggles with duty versus personal desire.
What does Aeneas’s fate entail?
He is destined to reach Italy, marking the beginning of the Latin race as willed by Jupiter.
This theme is reinforced through various prophecies and speeches.
What does Jupiter reveal about Rome’s future?
Jupiter explains the line of descent to Romulus and the founding of Rome, emphasizing its superiority and destined greatness.
The Romans will become ‘the rulers of the world’.
How does Virgil depict the Trojans?
Initially as victims of Juno’s storm and Greek treachery, yet characterized by wealth and splendor in Troy.
This duality highlights their tragic circumstances.
What is the significance of Carthage in the Aeneid?
Carthage serves as the setting for the first four books and reflects the political and social dynamics of the time.
Dido’s leadership and the city’s construction parallel Roman ideals.
What does the character of Evander represent?
He is a Greek ally to Aeneas, demonstrating that shared courage and kinship can transcend former enmities.
Evander’s character signifies the potential for reconciliation.
What do the women in the Aeneid often symbolize in terms of emotional stability?
They are depicted as unstable and prone to irrationality, contrasting with the male characters who are presented as rational and far-thinking.
This theme is exemplified by Dido and Alecto.
What does the shield made by Vulcan depict?
The future of Rome, including significant battles and events that will shape its history.
This symbolizes Aeneas’s mission and the destiny of Rome.
Who is Faunus in relation to Saturn?
Faunus is the grandson of Saturn
Faunus is associated with prophecy and divine communication.
What does Latinus offer Aeneas upon his arrival?
Latinus offers xenia and is ready to give Lavinia as his bride
