HUM 2220 – Greek/Roman Humanities

Questions for Books 1 & 2 of Virgil’s Aeneid

 

 

Instructions:  Read Books 1 & 2 of Virgil’s Aeneid in the Chapter 4 materials in Blackboard.  As you read, respond to each of the following questions as thoroughly as possible. Do NOT word-process your work; rather, hand-write your responses.  (This is to avoid the temptation to just copy and paste from the reading.  You need to demonstrate that you understand the passages.)  Each question is worth a point, but each response must be accurate and thorough in order to receive credit.                                                              (Worth 40 points total)

 

 

Book I

 

1. Recall that one of the characteristics of an epic is the poet states the theme at the beginning. Read the first lines of Book 1, and then tell in your own words what the theme is.                                                                                                          

The theme of the poem is war.

 

 

 

 

2. What is the name of the city “belov’d by Juno”?                                    

 

 

                  The name of the city is Carthage

 

 

3. What “ancient rumor” had Juno heard?                                    

Juno heard the rumor about the times to come she will see the Trojan race, and her carthage and tow’rs ruining and defacing respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Among Juno’s “long causes working in her mind” (reasons for hating Trojans) were references to Ganymed(e) and Electra. You may not know what these references are.  But another reason stated is “of Partial Paris, and her (Juno’s) form disdained.”  What is this referring to?                                                                                        

This was referring to her injured bed.  

 

 

 

5. For how many years were the “remnants of the Trojan host” wandering before arriving in Italy?                                    

The remnants of the Trojan host remained wandering for seven long years until they were tossed by the storm.

 

 

 

6. To whom does Juno turn to help her “sink or disperse [her] fatal enemies”? What does she promise him in return for his help?                                                         

 

Juno turns to Aelous and promises to press for the release of the impatient captives.

 

 

 

7. What god gets angry about the tempest which destroys the Trojan fleet? Why is he so angry?  What does he do about it?                                               

The god that gets angry about the tempest is Deiopeia, and he feels so angry because of the vanquished gods design of new temples. He therefore asks for sinking all of Juno’s fatal enemies.

 

 

 

 

8. Where do the Trojans arrive after the tempest subsides? How many ships make it there?                                                                                                 

The Trojans arrive to the nearest land where they make it the Libyan shores with seven ships making it there.

 

 

 

 

9. What animals did Achates see on the plain and how many did he kill? What does this number symbolize with regards to Rome’s history?                                

Achates saw ignoble throngs, and he managed to kill seven of them, thus symbolizing the seven the seven ships, hence he made an equal share.

 

 

 

 

 

10. What are several of the “past . . . woes” that the Trojans have had to bear on their long journey?                                    

The several of the past woes are the rocks of Scylla and the inhuman Cyclops.

 

 

 

 

 

11. What goddess saw the “human miseries” and asked Jove (Jupiter) why he was allowing this to happen? What promise that Jove once made does she refer to?

The goddess that saw the human miseries was Venus, the promise of progeny divine of Romans, rising from the Trojan line, and in after times she should hold the world in awe, and to the land ocean give the law.                                                                                                                      

12. Jove tells her that three cities are part of the Trojans’ future. What are the names of these cities?                                                                                                     

The Lavinium, Alba Longa and the City of Rome.

 

 

 

 

 

13. When Aeneas awoke on the Libyan shore, he saw his mother, Venus. How was she disguised?                                                                                                                 

She was disguised in deep recesses of wood, a huntress in her habit and her mien.

 

 

 

 

14. Who rules the “rising city,” which Aeneas sees from afar?            

Phoenician Dido rules the rising city.

 

 

 

 

15. How many ships did Aeneas start off with? How many remain?                       

Aenas started off with fourteen ships, and he only remained with seven ships.

 

 

 

 

16. How did Aeneas react when he realizes the hunter is his goddess mother, Venus?

Aenas was shocked and he could not wait to tell his goddess mother nothing but the truth of how cruel she was to deceive her own son, thus not blessing his sight.                                                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

17. Find the epic simile that is used to describe the “toiling Tyrians” (the Carthaginians) as they work on the citadel. What are they compared to?

They are compared to toiling bees in the flowery plains.

                             

 

 

 

 

 

18. What did Aeneas see that “reviv’d his courage, and his fear expell’d”? (Describe it fully.)     

He saw the striving artists and their arts renown.

 

 

 

 

19. To what “sweet region was [the Trojans’] voyage bent”?

The voyage was bent to Italia.                             

 

 

Book II

 

 

20. Who is Ulysses? (What other name do we know him by?)        

Ulysses was the king of Troy.                 

 

 

 

 

 

21. This highlighted passage describes the trick that the Greeks used to fool the Trojans into thinking the war had ended. What are the first few lines describing?      

The first few lines were describing the way the Greeks were sick and tired of the war.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22. According to this passage, where was the Greek fleet hiding?

The Greek fleet was hiding in the faithless bay.             

 

 

 

 

 

23. In this passage, the Trojan priest Laocoön tries to warn the others about what the Greeks left behind. What two possibilities does he suggest this thing could be?     

Laocoon suggests that they might be fooled by the Greeks left behind and thus making it easy for them to be betrayed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24. What happens in this passage?

A Greek captive is brought before the King and is killed in order to act as an example after Troy’s betrayal.                                                               

 

 

 

 

25. The next seven highlighted passages contain the elaborate lie that the Greek solder told the Trojans. First, what is the name of the Greek?  (He introduces himself in the second highlighted passage.)  Next, read through the other passages, and then summarize in your own words the elaborate lie he tells the Trojans.             

Finally, is there a place or sea which wants to receive me, what fate and a wretch fugitive like me who is abandoned by my friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

26. How does the king (Priam) react to the Greek’s story? (Answer it based on what you read in this highlighted passage.)                                                                               

The King reacts by telling the truth about Greece, and he also says his true name which is Sinon. Then he asks the soldier to wipe his tears and join him.

 

 

 

 

 

27. What does the Greek tell the Trojans about the gift?

The Greeks tell the Trojans that gift is ordained by the religion and the gods, thus if it is violated with hands profane Minerv’s gift, then Trojans town will burn. If the gift climbs the assisting hand, then city will stand.

 

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

28. Describe what happens in this passage.

The priest sacrificed a steer, after which they saw two serpents with the sea dividing and swallowing them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

29. What do the Trojans do with the gift?

 

The Trojan’s vote to admit the steed, with requires the vows to be paid, and incense be offered to the offended maid.

 

 

 

30. What happens after the horse is wheeled in?

The joyful enemies who had been in a confinement rose.

 

31. What happened to Aeneas while he was sleeping?

Hector’s ghost appeared before his while he was sleeping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

32. Describe the appearance of Hector in Aeneas’ vision.

Aeneas saw a black body with dust, and it had swollen feet, his hair and beards stood stiffened with his gore, and Hector had all the wounds that he had before, but now they were purple.                                                                                                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

33. Summarize the message that Hector gives to Aeneas.

Hector tells Aeneas to escape by timely flight, since the foes have already possessed the wall.

                             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34. What does Aeneas do when he wakes up?

 

Aenas first gathers his friends in order to oppose and repel their enemies.

 

 

 

 

35. Describe the trick that Coroebus suggests to his Trojan comrades.

Mixed with Greeks we go with ill presage.

 

 

 

 

 

36. When he enters the palace of King Priam, Aeneas sees Helen. What does he want to do to her?     

He wanted to kill her for the crime she had committed, and yet she was still free.                                                                                      

 

 

 

 

 

37. Aeneas’ mother (Venus) appears to him. What message does she have for him regarding who is to blame for the loss of Troy?                                                          

 

Venues asks Aenas to continue obeying her, and behave in a manly way, and stop thinking of rage.

 

 

 

 

 

38. What happens to Aeneas’ wife, Creusa, as they are fleeing the city?

Creusa fell as they flee, thus making Aenas not to see her forever.        

 

 

 

 

 

 

39. What message does Creusa have for Aeneas when she reappears?

Creusa asks Aeneas not to cry because no cry can give the dead relief. In addition, she advices him to desist from indulging in such pain, because he does not have much power than the gods.

 

 

 

 

 

40. What does Aeneas yield to at the end of this passage?                                                 Aeneas yields to fate to unwillingly retire.