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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. For whom does Aeneas return to Troy to search?

2. How did Polydorus die?

3. What prize is Nisus given by Aeneas?

4. Why do the Trojan women set fire to the Trojan ships in Book V?

5. What does Aeneas ask the gods through the Sibyl?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jupiter predict will be the destiny of the Trojans?

2. What can you tell about how Aeneas is growing as a leader from his behavior at the funeral games?

3. Once Aeneas is definitely leaving, what disagreeable options lay before Dido that make death seem the best choice?

4. Why are Dido's suitors so angry when she takes up with Aeneas?

5. Why should Aeneas not have tried to found a city in Thrace?

6. How does Aeneas demonstrate skill as a leader after the Trojans finally make it to shore?

7. How does Aeneas feel about having to leave Dido and to what extent does he allow his feelings to influence his decision to leave her?

8. Why might the Trojan women have been tempted to set fire to the ships even without Juno and Iris befuddling them?

9. Where does Helenus say destiny and change come from?

10. How will Aeneas start the line that turns into the rulers of the Roman Empire?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ultimately, how do you think Fate and Fortune work in the lives of any and all of the characters in The Aeneid? Use examples from the text to discuss issues such as:

1) How predetermined is fate and can it be changed? If so, by whom?

2) How are good or bad fortunes won?

3) How free or constrained are the gods and goddesses to act with or against fated outcomes?

Essay Topic 2

Similes and other detailed descriptions help the reader picture and understand things about the settings, characters, and events of this work. Identify an example of a simile being used to describe each of these three things and explain how it is used, what effect it has, and why Virgil might have used that particular simile in that particular place.

Essay Topic 3

Virgil uses foreshadowing for reasons such as to introduce events he will discuss in greater detail later, to create suspense, and to kindle his audience's interest so they will continue to listen to the story. Identify three examples of foreshadowing in this work, explain how they work, and identify what Virgil's purpose might have been for using them.

(see the answer keys)

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