Literary techniques and composition
Structure Language
Begins In Media Res Speeches
Proem (foreshadowing) ‘I sing of arms and of the man’ Juno to herself (37-49) – angry as she feels Athene can kill
who she wants but she cannot – unfair
Plot Juno to Aeolus (65-75) – asks him to create a storm that will
kill the Trojans
Juno is angry with Aeneas' men because they have escaped
Aeolus to Juno (76-80) – He complies, feels inferior – shows
Troy and because she has heard they will found a race who will
her power
overthrow Carthage.
Aeneas to himself (94-101) – Shows he wished he died in
She promises Aeolus a nymph bride if he releases the winds on
the Trojan war – dedication to Troy
Aeneas. He does, and Neptune is angry that the storm has
Neptune to the Winds (132-141) – States that the waters
displaced his sea. He restores the ships.
are his territory – shows gods are territorial
They reach land and Aeneas helps gather supplies while they
Aeneas to the Trojans (198-207) – States they’ve suffered
mourn their lost friends. Venus cries to Jupiter because Aeneas
worse and will get through this - establishes himself as a
is suffering, and he says the Romans will be great.
good leader
Jupiter sends Mercury to make Dido hospitable to the Trojans,
Aeneas to himself/Achates (437) – ‘How fortunate they are’
and the next day Venus appears to the men as a Spartan girl.
– that the Carthaginians have a queen and rising walls –
She tells him where they are and Dido's background, and
civilised
Aeneas only recognises her when she leaves. Aeneas admires
Ilioneus to Dido (522-558) – Asks Dido for help
the busy Carthaginians.
Dido to The Teucri (567-578) – Tells the Trojans not to
A frieze of the Trojan War is on the Temple of Juno. Dido
worry, ‘What I can, I shall do’ – helpful
appears, but Aeneas and his men are veiled in mist from
Venus. Their lost friends appear at the temple and beg Flashback - Dido’s story – ‘This moved Dido to plan her escape
suppliance. and gather followers…’
Dido welcomes them, and says she wishes Aeneas was here, at Similes (For familiarity)
which point the mist disappears, Venus makes Aeneas ‘They were like bees at the beginning of summer’
beautiful, and he speaks to Dido. ‘She was like Diana leading the dance’
Dido takes him to her palace, and he sends for Ascanius and ‘As when disorder arises among the people’
gifts. Venus puts Ascanius to sleep and takes him to one of her Anachronism (out of time)
safe places while Cupid disguised as him is sent instead. Aeneas could see a ‘senate’ in carthage – not present till
During the feast Aeneas tells his stories of the Trojan War and Rome
Cupid sits on Dido's knee, breathing fire and mad passion into
her heart.
The heroic world: characterisation and themes The social, cultural and religious context
Concepts, values and behaviour of a Greek and Roman Fate and Destiny
hero
, Respect to gods - Aeneas's prayers to gods during storm + Dido doomed - Narrative techniques
he provides food for all his men. Ilioneus says he has no (foreshadowing): "The doomed Dido was drawing out the
equal for his piety. Aeneas introduces himself as 'Aeneas, night with all manner of talk" / "The unfortunate Dido,
known for my devotion'. doomed to be the victim of a plague that was yet to come"
Duty - Attention towards Aeneas as a father when with Dido Aeneas destined to found Rome – Jupiter prophecy
Aeneas has kleos – Dido already knows who he is Fate is the almighty power – ‘Did you not promise that with
Characterisation the rolling years there would come a time when from this
Aeneas, Dido, Juno, Athene, Ajax, Jupiter, Aeolus, Hector, Neptune, stock the Romans would arise?’ – Venus to Zeus – Fate
Achates, Venus, Antheus, Sergestus, Cloanthus, Gyas, Cupid, Belus overrides Zeus
Aeneas – Leader (will lead his men to safety, book 1 Immortals
speech), Dutiful to the Gods (praying to them during storm) Juno begins storm – results in Trojans landing in carthage –
Dido – Queen (bees), leader (like Diana), independent cause of Dido’s death
(established carthage), respected (like Diana) Neptune stops storm
She was passionate about Aeneas before she had even Venus leads Aeneas to Dido
been poisoned ‘the fire within her grew’, resting Ascanius Family
on her knee, ‘trying to erase the memory of Sychaeus’ Venus looks out for her son - "Why do you so often mock
Role of Aeneas in Rome’s imperial destiny your own son by taking on these cruel disguises?"
Jupiter's prophecy – Aeneas will found Rome Women
Portrayal of War Dido controversially seen as the Queen in carthage –
Ekphrasis ‘Laid out in order, depictions of the battles unusual
fought at Troy’ (Trojan war displayed on temple walls) Women seen to use their beauty as power – Venus talking
Aeneas wept after seeing the wall – traumatic effect of war to Aeneas and Achates as a young huntress
Portrayal of different nations
Trojans face suffering – Storm Historical and Political background
Carthaginians - Civilised Jupiter's prophet explains the empires rise to power
Promotion of the Roman empire
‘I have given them an empire that will know no end’
Book 2
Literary techniques and composition
Structure Language
Narrative techniques (hindsight / Speeches
foreshadowing): "Four times it stopped on the very Laocoon to The Teucri (42-49) – Warns the Trojans the horse is a trick
threshold of the gate, and four times the armour clanged in from the Greeks and not to trust them
Aeneas to Hector's Ghost (281-286) – Asks Hector many questions –
its womb" asks him where he’s been
Aeneas as narrator of book 2 – Anchors it in Homeric Hector's Ghost to Aeneas (289-295) – Hector ignores these questions,
, values Tells Aeneas to escape as Troy is falling – tells him to establish a new
Narrative techniques (hindsight / foreshadowing) - city
Aeneas to Himself (577-587)
‘Troy would still be standing’ Venus to Aeneas (594-620)
Story–within-a-story Flashback (Aeneas’s story)
Plot Story of the Trojan horse – Greeks rolled into city in horse after
Aeneas talks about Troy's fall. Laocoon guesses that the Trojan Horse Trojans hear of Sinon’s story – Greeks set Troy on fire – fall of city
is full of Greeks and throws a spear into its belly. Some shepherds Flashback (Sinon’s story)
bring Sinon to Priam. Sinon lies and says the Greeks have left, and that Ulixes was plotting
Sinon lies and says the Greeks have left, and that Ulixes was plotting against him so Sinon would become a sacrificial victim but that he
against him so Sinon would become a sacrificial victim but that he escaped and is afraid. – Trojans pity him
escaped and is afraid. Similes – Homeric influence (For familiarity, Aeneas relating to Iliad –
He says the Horse is an offering to Pallas because they defiled the fighting)
Palladium. ‘like the bellowing of a wounded bull’ – Laocoon being killed by
serpents
Two serpents come from the sea and eat Laocoon and his children
‘my ears pricked up like a shepherd’ - protector
before resting at the feet of Pallas' statue in her temple. The Horse is
‘a furious south wind is carrying fire into a field of grain’ – sound of
dragged into the city. Greeks
That night, the Greeks come out, burn the city and start killing. Hektor ‘a mountain river…is flattening all the fields’ – sound of Greeks
appears to Aeneas in a dream telling him to leave Troy with the ‘like wolves foraging’ – hunted to hunter
household Gods. ‘like a man who steps on a snake’ – dangerous mistake
Aeneas arms himself and defends the city with some men. They kill ‘as though a whirlwind had burst and opposing winds were clashing’ –
some Greeks and take their armour and kill more. Cassandra is strong forces
kidnapped by Greeks. ‘like a snake which has fed on poisonous herbs’ – describing Pyrrhus,
deadly
At Priam's palace, Hecuba and 100 women are gathered round an ‘like an ancient tree…breaks with a dying groan’ – Troy falling
altar with their household Gods. Priam arms himself but sits with ‘as weightless as the wind, as light as the flight of sleep’ – references
them. Pyrrhus kills Polites in front of them. to natural processes – Creusa’s fate to die
Priam throws a spear and Pyrrhus kills him on the altar. Aeneas sees
Helen hiding at the Temple of Vesta and goes to kill her but is stopped
by Venus who makes him go home.
Anchises refuses to leave, until Jupiter sets Iulus' head on fire. Aeneas
carries Anchises and holds Iulus' hand while Creusa walks behind. He
becomes separated from her.
When he returns to look for her, her ghost appears and tells him to
leave, so he does.
Structure Language
Begins In Media Res Speeches
Proem (foreshadowing) ‘I sing of arms and of the man’ Juno to herself (37-49) – angry as she feels Athene can kill
who she wants but she cannot – unfair
Plot Juno to Aeolus (65-75) – asks him to create a storm that will
kill the Trojans
Juno is angry with Aeneas' men because they have escaped
Aeolus to Juno (76-80) – He complies, feels inferior – shows
Troy and because she has heard they will found a race who will
her power
overthrow Carthage.
Aeneas to himself (94-101) – Shows he wished he died in
She promises Aeolus a nymph bride if he releases the winds on
the Trojan war – dedication to Troy
Aeneas. He does, and Neptune is angry that the storm has
Neptune to the Winds (132-141) – States that the waters
displaced his sea. He restores the ships.
are his territory – shows gods are territorial
They reach land and Aeneas helps gather supplies while they
Aeneas to the Trojans (198-207) – States they’ve suffered
mourn their lost friends. Venus cries to Jupiter because Aeneas
worse and will get through this - establishes himself as a
is suffering, and he says the Romans will be great.
good leader
Jupiter sends Mercury to make Dido hospitable to the Trojans,
Aeneas to himself/Achates (437) – ‘How fortunate they are’
and the next day Venus appears to the men as a Spartan girl.
– that the Carthaginians have a queen and rising walls –
She tells him where they are and Dido's background, and
civilised
Aeneas only recognises her when she leaves. Aeneas admires
Ilioneus to Dido (522-558) – Asks Dido for help
the busy Carthaginians.
Dido to The Teucri (567-578) – Tells the Trojans not to
A frieze of the Trojan War is on the Temple of Juno. Dido
worry, ‘What I can, I shall do’ – helpful
appears, but Aeneas and his men are veiled in mist from
Venus. Their lost friends appear at the temple and beg Flashback - Dido’s story – ‘This moved Dido to plan her escape
suppliance. and gather followers…’
Dido welcomes them, and says she wishes Aeneas was here, at Similes (For familiarity)
which point the mist disappears, Venus makes Aeneas ‘They were like bees at the beginning of summer’
beautiful, and he speaks to Dido. ‘She was like Diana leading the dance’
Dido takes him to her palace, and he sends for Ascanius and ‘As when disorder arises among the people’
gifts. Venus puts Ascanius to sleep and takes him to one of her Anachronism (out of time)
safe places while Cupid disguised as him is sent instead. Aeneas could see a ‘senate’ in carthage – not present till
During the feast Aeneas tells his stories of the Trojan War and Rome
Cupid sits on Dido's knee, breathing fire and mad passion into
her heart.
The heroic world: characterisation and themes The social, cultural and religious context
Concepts, values and behaviour of a Greek and Roman Fate and Destiny
hero
, Respect to gods - Aeneas's prayers to gods during storm + Dido doomed - Narrative techniques
he provides food for all his men. Ilioneus says he has no (foreshadowing): "The doomed Dido was drawing out the
equal for his piety. Aeneas introduces himself as 'Aeneas, night with all manner of talk" / "The unfortunate Dido,
known for my devotion'. doomed to be the victim of a plague that was yet to come"
Duty - Attention towards Aeneas as a father when with Dido Aeneas destined to found Rome – Jupiter prophecy
Aeneas has kleos – Dido already knows who he is Fate is the almighty power – ‘Did you not promise that with
Characterisation the rolling years there would come a time when from this
Aeneas, Dido, Juno, Athene, Ajax, Jupiter, Aeolus, Hector, Neptune, stock the Romans would arise?’ – Venus to Zeus – Fate
Achates, Venus, Antheus, Sergestus, Cloanthus, Gyas, Cupid, Belus overrides Zeus
Aeneas – Leader (will lead his men to safety, book 1 Immortals
speech), Dutiful to the Gods (praying to them during storm) Juno begins storm – results in Trojans landing in carthage –
Dido – Queen (bees), leader (like Diana), independent cause of Dido’s death
(established carthage), respected (like Diana) Neptune stops storm
She was passionate about Aeneas before she had even Venus leads Aeneas to Dido
been poisoned ‘the fire within her grew’, resting Ascanius Family
on her knee, ‘trying to erase the memory of Sychaeus’ Venus looks out for her son - "Why do you so often mock
Role of Aeneas in Rome’s imperial destiny your own son by taking on these cruel disguises?"
Jupiter's prophecy – Aeneas will found Rome Women
Portrayal of War Dido controversially seen as the Queen in carthage –
Ekphrasis ‘Laid out in order, depictions of the battles unusual
fought at Troy’ (Trojan war displayed on temple walls) Women seen to use their beauty as power – Venus talking
Aeneas wept after seeing the wall – traumatic effect of war to Aeneas and Achates as a young huntress
Portrayal of different nations
Trojans face suffering – Storm Historical and Political background
Carthaginians - Civilised Jupiter's prophet explains the empires rise to power
Promotion of the Roman empire
‘I have given them an empire that will know no end’
Book 2
Literary techniques and composition
Structure Language
Narrative techniques (hindsight / Speeches
foreshadowing): "Four times it stopped on the very Laocoon to The Teucri (42-49) – Warns the Trojans the horse is a trick
threshold of the gate, and four times the armour clanged in from the Greeks and not to trust them
Aeneas to Hector's Ghost (281-286) – Asks Hector many questions –
its womb" asks him where he’s been
Aeneas as narrator of book 2 – Anchors it in Homeric Hector's Ghost to Aeneas (289-295) – Hector ignores these questions,
, values Tells Aeneas to escape as Troy is falling – tells him to establish a new
Narrative techniques (hindsight / foreshadowing) - city
Aeneas to Himself (577-587)
‘Troy would still be standing’ Venus to Aeneas (594-620)
Story–within-a-story Flashback (Aeneas’s story)
Plot Story of the Trojan horse – Greeks rolled into city in horse after
Aeneas talks about Troy's fall. Laocoon guesses that the Trojan Horse Trojans hear of Sinon’s story – Greeks set Troy on fire – fall of city
is full of Greeks and throws a spear into its belly. Some shepherds Flashback (Sinon’s story)
bring Sinon to Priam. Sinon lies and says the Greeks have left, and that Ulixes was plotting
Sinon lies and says the Greeks have left, and that Ulixes was plotting against him so Sinon would become a sacrificial victim but that he
against him so Sinon would become a sacrificial victim but that he escaped and is afraid. – Trojans pity him
escaped and is afraid. Similes – Homeric influence (For familiarity, Aeneas relating to Iliad –
He says the Horse is an offering to Pallas because they defiled the fighting)
Palladium. ‘like the bellowing of a wounded bull’ – Laocoon being killed by
serpents
Two serpents come from the sea and eat Laocoon and his children
‘my ears pricked up like a shepherd’ - protector
before resting at the feet of Pallas' statue in her temple. The Horse is
‘a furious south wind is carrying fire into a field of grain’ – sound of
dragged into the city. Greeks
That night, the Greeks come out, burn the city and start killing. Hektor ‘a mountain river…is flattening all the fields’ – sound of Greeks
appears to Aeneas in a dream telling him to leave Troy with the ‘like wolves foraging’ – hunted to hunter
household Gods. ‘like a man who steps on a snake’ – dangerous mistake
Aeneas arms himself and defends the city with some men. They kill ‘as though a whirlwind had burst and opposing winds were clashing’ –
some Greeks and take their armour and kill more. Cassandra is strong forces
kidnapped by Greeks. ‘like a snake which has fed on poisonous herbs’ – describing Pyrrhus,
deadly
At Priam's palace, Hecuba and 100 women are gathered round an ‘like an ancient tree…breaks with a dying groan’ – Troy falling
altar with their household Gods. Priam arms himself but sits with ‘as weightless as the wind, as light as the flight of sleep’ – references
them. Pyrrhus kills Polites in front of them. to natural processes – Creusa’s fate to die
Priam throws a spear and Pyrrhus kills him on the altar. Aeneas sees
Helen hiding at the Temple of Vesta and goes to kill her but is stopped
by Venus who makes him go home.
Anchises refuses to leave, until Jupiter sets Iulus' head on fire. Aeneas
carries Anchises and holds Iulus' hand while Creusa walks behind. He
becomes separated from her.
When he returns to look for her, her ghost appears and tells him to
leave, so he does.
