The World of the Hero Essay Plans
The plot of the Aeneid is driven more by gods than mortal. Discuss how far you think this is
true in Virgil’s epic.
Intro: 3 themes, thesis, define terms
Aeneas is just part of the wider plan of the Gods – Fate
o Jupiter makes it clear that Aeneas needs to found the Roman race – he is clear
from Book 1 – “so heavy was the cost of founding the Roman race”
o Apollo’s prophecy in Book 3 – “seek out your ancient mother”
o Mercury gets Aeneas to keep going on his journey in Carthage – Book 4 –
“have you entirely forgotten your own kingdom and your own destiny?”
o P HARDIE - Aeneas's 'colourless character' is because 'rather than being
strongly driven by an internal desire or ambition he is forced into a mission by
circumstances beyond his control’
Impact of divine favour (Aphrodite vs Juno)
o Aphrodite is Aeneas’ mother – “what crime have the Trojan’s committed to
receive this loss of life” – divine favour by appealing to Jupiter for some
support following Juno’s actions in Book 1
o Compare this to Juno getting Aeolus to create a storm because he “cannot
refuse the Queen of the Gods” – trying to hinder Aeneas’ journey
Aeneas as a character that is the focus of the epic
o Aeneas’ desire for Dido that he is caught building the walls of Carthage – “he
caught sight of Aeneas laying the foundation of the citadel”
o Dido – part of the plot – “succumbed to lust” in the cave scene – BUT this
could be blamed on Cupid sitting on Dido’s lap – so gods not mortals
Conclusion – plot is driven more by gods than mortals
The role of fate in the Aeneid reduces suspense and excitement. To what extent do you agree?
Intro: 3 themes, thesis, define terms
Fate as a driving force
o Jupiter makes it clear that Aeneas needs to found the Roman race – he is clear
from Book 1 – “so heavy was the cost of founding the Roman race” – this is
the end goal so the reader knows where Aeneas should end up
o At Delos - Apollo’s prophecy in Book 3 – “seek out your ancient mother”
o “If divine Fate... had not been set against us... would surely have forced us to
tear open the hiding place of the Greeks” – the Gods are not siding with the
Trojans and so Troy will fall – this certainty diminishes the suspense element
The uncertainty of fate
o Dido episode – he loves her so much – they “succumbed to lust” – this is a
suspense element as “by the marriage we have begun” – this is suspense
despite the fact we know Aeneas must continue
o GRANSDEN - Certain events are predetermined, though the precise moment
and circumstances remain flexible
Divine interference causes suspense and excitement
o Venus and Juno – Book 4 – “She saw though the deception and laughed” – we
know Aeneas must move on but the way he goes about it creates suspense
o “The decree of the Fates will stand ... But I shall be able to delay it all and
drag it out” – Juno will continue to mess things up, but we don’t know how
e.g. Amata like a “spinning top” in frenzy = suspense
, Conclusion – role of fate does not undermine the suspense and excitement felt
The main purpose of divine intervention in the Aeneid is to glorify Rome. To what extent do
you agree? – is the journey to the underworld relevant here?
Intro: 3 themes, thesis, define terms
Divine intervention on Aeneas and how it glorifies Rome
o Jupiter makes it clear that Aeneas needs to found the Roman race – he is clear
from Book 1 – “so heavy was the cost of founding the Roman race” – the
divine link between Venus, Aeneas, and the founding of Rome = glory
o At Delos - Apollo’s prophecy in Book 3 – “seek out your ancient mother” –
divine involvement in the founding of Rome = glory
o As Aeneas is acting to found Rome, the actions of the Gods are therefore
contributing to the glorification of Rome
Divine intervention on mortals and how it glorifies Rome
o “He nevertheless carried out the commands of the Gods” – Aeneas continues
his journey despite needing to be reminded by Mercury – this intervention is
keeping Aeneas on track – therefore the fact that the Gods are appearing to
Aeneas glorifies what he will soon found
Instances where divine intervention did not glorify Rome
o “She saw though the deception and laughed” – the cave scene with Dido – this
intervention is not glorifying Rome
o Juno making Amata like a “spinning top” in frenzy = not glorifying Rome in
anyway – BUT it could be argued that this adds another obstacle to make the
cost of founding Rome greater, therefore glorifying it
Conclusion – the purpose of divine intervention is not to glorify Rome – more so to
create greater reader entertainment and suspense
Are the Gods portrayed positively or negatively in the Aeneid?
Intro: 2 themes, thesis, define terms
Positive Portrayal
o “have you entirely forgotten your own kingdom and your own destiny?” –
Gods are reminding Aeneas of his duty = positive – they are also supporting
the founding of what will become Rome – link to Augustus and his link to
Venus = positive depiction of Gods
o The Gods see that there is so much death between the two armies of Aeneas
and Turnus – BUT – the fact that they notice it and have allowed it to get to
that point is a negative depiction
o ZANKER - The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus: Aeneas = “a
representative of divine providence and the will of the gods”
Negative Portrayal
o Gods make Aeneas leave Dido even if it is his duty to continue – especially
negative after Juno and Venus schemed for the cave scheme - “She saw though
the deception and laughed”
o 'The Queen of the Gods ... struck the stubborn doors, bursting the iron-bound
Gates of War' – Juno causing war = negative – Book 7
o Juno making Amata mad – like a “spinning top” in frenzy = negative
Conclusion – Gods are mostly depicted positively with the exception of Juno
How important are the Gods and fate to the plot of the Aeneid?
The plot of the Aeneid is driven more by gods than mortal. Discuss how far you think this is
true in Virgil’s epic.
Intro: 3 themes, thesis, define terms
Aeneas is just part of the wider plan of the Gods – Fate
o Jupiter makes it clear that Aeneas needs to found the Roman race – he is clear
from Book 1 – “so heavy was the cost of founding the Roman race”
o Apollo’s prophecy in Book 3 – “seek out your ancient mother”
o Mercury gets Aeneas to keep going on his journey in Carthage – Book 4 –
“have you entirely forgotten your own kingdom and your own destiny?”
o P HARDIE - Aeneas's 'colourless character' is because 'rather than being
strongly driven by an internal desire or ambition he is forced into a mission by
circumstances beyond his control’
Impact of divine favour (Aphrodite vs Juno)
o Aphrodite is Aeneas’ mother – “what crime have the Trojan’s committed to
receive this loss of life” – divine favour by appealing to Jupiter for some
support following Juno’s actions in Book 1
o Compare this to Juno getting Aeolus to create a storm because he “cannot
refuse the Queen of the Gods” – trying to hinder Aeneas’ journey
Aeneas as a character that is the focus of the epic
o Aeneas’ desire for Dido that he is caught building the walls of Carthage – “he
caught sight of Aeneas laying the foundation of the citadel”
o Dido – part of the plot – “succumbed to lust” in the cave scene – BUT this
could be blamed on Cupid sitting on Dido’s lap – so gods not mortals
Conclusion – plot is driven more by gods than mortals
The role of fate in the Aeneid reduces suspense and excitement. To what extent do you agree?
Intro: 3 themes, thesis, define terms
Fate as a driving force
o Jupiter makes it clear that Aeneas needs to found the Roman race – he is clear
from Book 1 – “so heavy was the cost of founding the Roman race” – this is
the end goal so the reader knows where Aeneas should end up
o At Delos - Apollo’s prophecy in Book 3 – “seek out your ancient mother”
o “If divine Fate... had not been set against us... would surely have forced us to
tear open the hiding place of the Greeks” – the Gods are not siding with the
Trojans and so Troy will fall – this certainty diminishes the suspense element
The uncertainty of fate
o Dido episode – he loves her so much – they “succumbed to lust” – this is a
suspense element as “by the marriage we have begun” – this is suspense
despite the fact we know Aeneas must continue
o GRANSDEN - Certain events are predetermined, though the precise moment
and circumstances remain flexible
Divine interference causes suspense and excitement
o Venus and Juno – Book 4 – “She saw though the deception and laughed” – we
know Aeneas must move on but the way he goes about it creates suspense
o “The decree of the Fates will stand ... But I shall be able to delay it all and
drag it out” – Juno will continue to mess things up, but we don’t know how
e.g. Amata like a “spinning top” in frenzy = suspense
, Conclusion – role of fate does not undermine the suspense and excitement felt
The main purpose of divine intervention in the Aeneid is to glorify Rome. To what extent do
you agree? – is the journey to the underworld relevant here?
Intro: 3 themes, thesis, define terms
Divine intervention on Aeneas and how it glorifies Rome
o Jupiter makes it clear that Aeneas needs to found the Roman race – he is clear
from Book 1 – “so heavy was the cost of founding the Roman race” – the
divine link between Venus, Aeneas, and the founding of Rome = glory
o At Delos - Apollo’s prophecy in Book 3 – “seek out your ancient mother” –
divine involvement in the founding of Rome = glory
o As Aeneas is acting to found Rome, the actions of the Gods are therefore
contributing to the glorification of Rome
Divine intervention on mortals and how it glorifies Rome
o “He nevertheless carried out the commands of the Gods” – Aeneas continues
his journey despite needing to be reminded by Mercury – this intervention is
keeping Aeneas on track – therefore the fact that the Gods are appearing to
Aeneas glorifies what he will soon found
Instances where divine intervention did not glorify Rome
o “She saw though the deception and laughed” – the cave scene with Dido – this
intervention is not glorifying Rome
o Juno making Amata like a “spinning top” in frenzy = not glorifying Rome in
anyway – BUT it could be argued that this adds another obstacle to make the
cost of founding Rome greater, therefore glorifying it
Conclusion – the purpose of divine intervention is not to glorify Rome – more so to
create greater reader entertainment and suspense
Are the Gods portrayed positively or negatively in the Aeneid?
Intro: 2 themes, thesis, define terms
Positive Portrayal
o “have you entirely forgotten your own kingdom and your own destiny?” –
Gods are reminding Aeneas of his duty = positive – they are also supporting
the founding of what will become Rome – link to Augustus and his link to
Venus = positive depiction of Gods
o The Gods see that there is so much death between the two armies of Aeneas
and Turnus – BUT – the fact that they notice it and have allowed it to get to
that point is a negative depiction
o ZANKER - The Power of Images in the Age of Augustus: Aeneas = “a
representative of divine providence and the will of the gods”
Negative Portrayal
o Gods make Aeneas leave Dido even if it is his duty to continue – especially
negative after Juno and Venus schemed for the cave scheme - “She saw though
the deception and laughed”
o 'The Queen of the Gods ... struck the stubborn doors, bursting the iron-bound
Gates of War' – Juno causing war = negative – Book 7
o Juno making Amata mad – like a “spinning top” in frenzy = negative
Conclusion – Gods are mostly depicted positively with the exception of Juno
How important are the Gods and fate to the plot of the Aeneid?
