Aeneid 7-9 Study Questions

Identify: Caieta, Tiber, Latinus, Turnus, Laurentines, Dardanus, Ilioneus, Allecto, Amata, Saturn, Lavinia, Tyrrhus, Silvia, Almo , Camilla, Mezentius, Tiberinus, Arcadia, Pallas, Evander, Daunians, Catiline, Cato, Actium, Agrippa, Cleopatra, Nisus, Euryalus, Butes, Mnestheus,

Book 7

  1. How does Virgil indicate that a new part of the story is beginning?
  2. What is Latinus' family history and how is it significant?
  3. What role does his daughter have to play in the events to come? What kind of person is she? What does she have in common with Helen?
  4. What prophecy is fulfilled as the Trojans set up camp?
  5. Why is the history of Dardanus significant?
  6. How does Allecto stir up war?
  7. How is Amata affected by the arrival of Aeneas and by Allecto's actions?
  8. How is Iulus drawn into the conflict by Allecto?
  9. Compare Virgil's catalogue of kings with its Homeric model. Consider its content, similes, and function in the poem

Book 8

  1.  How does the river Tiber help Aeneas?
  2. How are Aeneas and Evander related? What common enemy do they have?
  3. What is Hercules' connection to Arcadia? What does he have in common with Aeneas?
  4. What is the connection between Evander's town and Rome?
  5. Compare the making, the content and the function of the shield of Aeneas with the shield of Achilles from the Iliad.
  6. How and why does Evander help Aeneas?

Book 9

  1. What prevents Turnus from setting fire to the Trojan ships?
  2. Who is the Homeric model for Turnus?
  3. Where have we seen Nisus and Euryalus before? How did the previous episode foreshadow this one in Book 9?
  4. What betrays the two men to the enemy?
  5. What impression do we get of Turnus in this battle-book?