Latin Aeneid Outline Book I Page 1 1-11 Invocation. 1-7 Statement of themes. 8-11 Muse is asked to explain how gods can act so harshly to man. 12-33 Divine Level: Background: the story begins. 12-18 Juno s love for Carthage. 19-22 Danger posed by Troy and its descendants. 23-33 Juno s reasons for hating the Trojans. 34-80 Divine Level: Juno and Aeolus unleash a storm to ruin the Trojans. 34-35 Quick glimpse of the Trojans at sea. 36-39 JUNO (to herself): Am I unable to destroy the Trojans? 39-45 Minerva could kill Ajax.. 46-49 I ve fought with the Trojans for years and now no one will honor me. 50-63 Description of Aeolus and his cave. 64-66 JUNO (to Aeolus): My compliments to you as king of the winds; 67-68 My problem: the Trojans are sailing to Italy; 69-70 My request: destroy them anyway you wish; 71-75 My thanks: I ll give you a beautiful bride and children. 76-80 AEOLUS: Your wish is my command. 81-123 Human Level: The storm strikes Aeneas and his fleet. 81-91 Description of the winds release and the subsequent storm 92-101 AENEAS: I wish I had died nobly back at Troy before my father, where Hector and the other heroes lie dead. 102-123 One ship is destroyed and the fleet is scattered. 124-156 Divine Level: Neptune calms the storm. 124-131 Neptune senses the storm, rises to surface, and summons the winds. 132-141 NEPTUNE: You winds and your king have trespassed in my domain; stop now. 132-147 Neptune and two minor gods calm the seas and free the ships on the sandbars. 148-156 Simile: Neptune is compared to a noble man stopping a riot. 157-222 Human Level: Landing near Carthage. 157-179 The Trojans land in an elaborately described harbor. 180-193 Aeneas searches in vain for his lost ships but does kill 7 deer for his ships. 194-197 Aeneas provides food and drink for a feast. 198-207 AENEAS: We ve been through worse things; we know where we re headed, so let s persevere. 208-222 The Trojans prepare and eat their feast, then lament for their lost comrades. 223-304 Divine Level: Venus laments, Jupiter consoles with a view of future. 223-228 Venus in tears approaches Jupiter. 229-241 VENUS: What about your promises to the Trojans? 241-249 Antenor got his city. 250-253 But your own family doesn t get their just due. 254-262 JUPITER: Don t worry, Aeneas will found his city. 262-266 Aeneas will fulfill his destiny in Italy. 267-272 Ascanius will move the government to Alba Longa. 273-277 Romulus will found the city of Rome. 278-282 I have given them unlimited power, and even Juno will be reconciled. 283-285 Greece will be conquered at some time in the future. 286-290 You will receive Augustus, loaded with spoils, in heaven someday. 291-296 The gates of war will be closed and Furor will be in chains. 297-304 Mercury is sent to Carthage to assure that the Carthaginians are hospitable. 304-407 Human/Divine Level: Aeneas, while scouting, meets Venus. 305-313 Aeneas and Achates go scouting. 314-320 Venus in huntress disguise meets them. 321-324 VENUS: Have you seen one of my sisters wandering around here? 325-334 AENEAS: You must be a goddess! Please help us and I ll sacrifice to you. 335-342 VENUS: You re in Dido s Carthage, and I ll tell her story. 343-370 Dido married Sychaeus, the richest man in Phoenicia; he was killed by her greedy brother, King Pygmalion, who concealed his crime; Sychaeus ghost appeared in a dream to Dido, who seized the buried treasure and sailed away to found a city in Africa.
Latin Aeneid Outline Book I Page 2 371-385 AENEAS: We are Trojans heading to Italy, who have suffered grievously. 386-401 VENUS: Keep on the road to Carthage; I see an omen of the swans and that means your fleet is safe. 402-409 AENEAS (recognizing his fleeing mother): Why can t we talk normally? 410-417 Venus encloses him in a cloud of invisibility and heads to Paphos. 418-493 Human Level: Aeneas enters Carthage. 418-429 Aeneas catches his first sight of the Carthaginians building their new city. 430-436 Simile of the workers compared to bees building a hive. 437-440 Aeneas wishes he were building his city. 441-449 Description of Juno s grove and temple in the middle of Carthage. 450-458 Aeneas experiences hope as he sees a mural depicting Troy s fall. 459-463 AENEAS: Achates, Troy s glorious fall will bring us some help. 464-493 A description (ecphrasis) of the mural, with Aeneas tearful reactions: 466-468 Two panels of Greeks fleeing the Trojans and Achilles chasing the Trojans. 469-473 Rhesus and the loss of his horses. 474-478 The death of Troilus at Achilles hands. 479-482 The Trojan women weep as they worship Minerva in vain. 483-487 Hector ransoms the corpse of Hector from Achilles. 488-489 Aeneas recognizes himself amidst the fighting figures. 490-493 Penthesilea, the Amazon queen, charges to war, heading her army. 494-578 Human Level: Dido meets the men from Aeneas lost ships. 494-506 Dido enters with her attendants; a simile of Dido compared to Diana. 507-519 The leaders of the lost ships enter, but Aeneas and Achates remain in the cloud. 520-529 ILIONEUS: We Trojans aren t here to plunder your lands. 530-538 We headed for Italy but a storm drove us off course. 539-543 What kind of people are this barbaric and drive all strangers away? 544-549 Our king was Aeneas and you will not regret helping us? 549-560 We re heading to Sicily or Italy, depending on whether Aeneas still lives. 561-564 DIDO: Don t be upset, I have to guard my new kingdom. 565-568 Who hasn t heard of Troy? 569-578 I ll help you go to either Sicily or Italy, or you can stay here with me, but I wish that Aeneas himself were here. 579-656 Human Level: Aeneas meets Dido and they exchange greetings. 579-585 ACHATES: Let s get out of cloud. It s just like your mother said it would be. 586-593 Aeneas emerges, drenched with beauty by Venus; a simile of his beauty to that of natural objects enhanced by the addition of silver or gold. 594-596 AENEAS: I am Trojan Aeneas. 597-610 We could never thank you properly for your great generosity. What great parents bore you. I ll always remember you, wherever I go. 610-612 Aeneas greets his lost friends. 613-616 DIDO: What brings you here? Are you the Aeneas? 617-626 I heard about you from Teucer, who was your enemy but admired your people s bravery. 627-630 Because of my experiences, I ve learned to help those in need. 631-635 She escorts Aeneas into palace and sends food to the ships. 636-642 Description of the inner palace and the preparations for the feast. 643-646 Achates is sent by Aeneas to fetch Iulus. 647-656 Achates also has to bring back gifts from Troy: Helen s clothing, Ilione s scepter and jewels. 657-696 Divine Level: Venus plots with Cupid 657-663 Venus is troubled in spirit because of possible further acts by Juno. 664-672 VENUS: Cupid, you have to help me because you know what troubles Aeneas has suffered at Juno s hands and now he is delayed by Dido. 673-676 I have a plan, and please listen. 677-688 Disguise yourself as the boy Iulus and at the banquet make Dido fall in love with Aeneas. 689-696 Cupid agrees, Venus takes Ascanius away to Idalia, and Cupid in disguise goes to Carthage with Achates and the gifts for Dido.
Latin Aeneid Outline Book I Page 3 697-756 Human Level: The banquet at Dido s palace in honor of Aeneas. 697-708 Preparations for the feast and the entry of the various guests. 709-714 Reactions of the guests to the gifts, especially of Dido to the gifts and the boy. 715-722 Cupid attacks Dido and fills her with love for Aeneas. 723-727 As the food is removed, the lights are lit for the conversation to follow. 728-730 A ceremonial cup is passed around to start the drinking. 731-735 DIDO: May Jupiter, god of hospitality, make this day memorable for both Tyrians and Trojans, and may Juno and Bacchus celebrate this meeting. 736-740 Dido challenges Bitias to drink from the cup and he spills it on himself. 741-747 The bard Iopas sings of the world s natural phenomena, to great applause. 748-752 Dido, already in love, asks questions about the war and its warriors. 753-756 DIDO: Aeneas, tell me about your misfortunes and wanderings.
Latin Aeneid Outline Book II Page 1 1-12 Introduction 1-9 AENEAS: It s painful to remember Troy s fall and its fate. 10-12 But if you wish, I will tell you. 12-56 The Greeks leave; Trojans find a wooden horse; Laocoon attacks the horse 12-20 The Greeks build and fill a wooden horse with Minerva s help. 21-24 The Greeks leave and hide at Tenedos. 25-30 The Trojans come out and wander through the Greek camp. 31-34 Thymoetes urges the horse be brought inside Troy. 35-39 Capys et al. urge burning it; the crowd is unsure. 40-49 LAOCOON: Do you trust Greeks? This is some enemy trick. 50-56 Laocoon hurls a spear but none hear any noise in the horse because fate is against Troy. 57-198 Sinon episode 57-67 Sinon is led in chains into the midst of the Trojans. 68-71 SINON: What hope is there for me? 72-76 The Trojans check their urge to kill and bid him speak. 77-80 SINON: I ll tell the truth - I am a Greek. 81-100 The story of Palamedes death through Ulysses lies and Sinon s desire for revenge; Ulysses takes steps to stop this with the help of Calchas and - 101-104 But you Trojans don t care - go ahead, kill me as the Greeks want. 105-107 The Trojans are ensnared by his story as he hesitates. 108-113 SINON: The Greeks wanted to leave, especially after the horse was built. 114-121 The Greeks sent to the oracle, which said, Sacrifice a Greek. Everybody was afraid. 122-131 Ulysses gets Calchas to pick me after 10 days all the others are relieved. 132-136 Ready for sacrifice, I escape and hide until Greeks leave. 137-140 I have no hope of returning home and my family will be punished. 141-144 Have mercy on me. 145-151 PRIAM: Free his chains; tell me the purpose of this horse. 152-161 SINON: It is permitted to break faith with the Greeks and tell you the whole truth. 162-175 Ever since her statue was stolen, Minerva s been against the Greeks. 176-182 Calchas said the Greeks had to return home and reconcile the gods. 183-194 Calchas ordered that a horse be built to atone for the theft, but built so big it couldn t be taken into Troy to protect the Trojans. 195-198 Trojans believe Sinon and are really doomed from here on. 199-233 Laocoon Episode 199-211 Laocoon is sacrificing as 2 horrible snakes arrive from Tenedos. 212-224 The Trojans flee; the snakes attack his children and then Laocoon; a simile of Laocoon to a bull. 225-227 The snakes flee to the temple of Minerva and hide under her statue s feet. 228-233 The Trojans are convinced and order the horse be led into Troy. 234-267 The Horse enters 234-240 The walls are opened and the youths pull the horse into Troy. 241-245 Even though it stops 4 times, the work continues. 246-249 Cassandra warns against the horse, but is not believed. 250-253 Night falls on the exhausted Trojans. 254-264 The Greek fleet returns and signals for Sinon to let the men out of the horse. 265-267 The Greeks join forces and attack the sleeping Trojans. 268-297 Hector appears to Aeneas 268-279 Hector appears in Aeneas dream as he was in death, foul with gore and dust. 279-286 AENEAS: How glad I am to see you! But what has happened? 287-292 HECTOR: Troy has fallen and you can t save it - nor could I - escape now! 293-297 Take the gods of Troy and found a new city. 298-437 Aeneas first experiences in the fall of Troy 298-303 The noise of battle awakens Aeneas who climbs to the roof top. 304-308 Simile of Aeneas to a shepherd hearing approaching danger. 309-317 Aeneas sees the fires, hears the noise, and decides to join the fight and die. 318-322 AENEAS (to Panthus, arriving at his door): What s wrong? 323-335 PANTHUS: Troy has fallen and the Greeks hold the city. 336-346 Aeneas is swept into war by these words and gathers a band of warriors. 347-354 AENEAS: The gods are against us, so let us die with honor and courage. 355-358 Simile of Trojan warriors to ravenous wolves defending their young. 358-369 The men make their way through a city full of destruction and carnage. 370-375 A Greek named ANDROGEOS meets them, asks: Where have you Greeks been?
Latin Aeneid Outline Book II Page 2 376-382 He stops as he realizes his mistake; simile of a man stepping on a snake. 383-385 Androgeos and his men are killed by Aeneas and his Trojans. 386-391 The Trojan COROEBUS: Let s disguise ourselves with Greek weapons and armor. 392-401 The Trojans agree and proceed to rout small groups of Greeks. 402-406 Cassandra is being dragged in chains from the Temple of Minerva. 407-409 Coroebus, her fiancé, rushes to her rescue. 410-415 Aeneas band is attacked by Greeks and by mistake by Trojans on temple roof. 416-419 Simile of a battle to a clash of winds. 420-430 The Trojans drop, one by one. 431-437 Aeneas asserts he fought bravely enough to merit death, but survived. 438-558 At the center of the fight, the royal palace, Priam, the king of Troy, dies. 438-452 The intense battle rages most fiercely at Priam s palace. 453-468 Aeneas enters by a back door, climbs to the roof, and throws down pieces of roof on the ever-assaulting Greeks. 469-475 Pyrrhus appears in doorway; simile of Pyrrhus compared to a fresh snake. 476-482 The Greeks advance into the house with brute force. 483-495 The scene within: women wailing, walls and doors smashed, Greeks killing. 496-499 Simile of the Greeks to an advancing river flood. 500-505 Aeneas says he was an eyewitness to the fight in the inner palace. 506-511 Priam arms to defend himself and his home against the Greeks. 512-517 At an altar in the center of the palace Hecuba and Priam s daughters sit. 518-525 HECUBA: Are you crazy? Not even Hector could help. Sit here with me for protection. 526-532 Polites, pursued by Pyrrhus, pours out his lifeblood at his father s feet. 533-543 PRIAM (reproaching Pyrrhus): May the gods repay you for your cruelty. You re not the man your father Achilles was. 544-546 Priam hurls his useless weapon at Pyrrhus. 547-550 PYRRHUS: Go tell my dead father how bad I am! Now die! 551-553 Pyrrhus kills Priam at the altar as the old man slips in his son s blood. 554-558 Priam s headless corpse lies in the shore, the sad end of a great king. 559-633 Aeneas sees Helen but Venus shows him the gods destroying Troy. 559-566 Aeneas thinks of home: wife, father and son; he realizes he s alone now. 567-574 He sees Helen, cowering at an altar in fear of both Greeks and Trojans. 575-582 AENEAS (to himself): Is she to go home while Troy is burned? 583-587 No! Even though there s no honor in killing a woman, I ll kill her. 588-593 Venus appears as her goddess self to Aeneas. 594-600 VENUS: Why don t you think of your family, whom I ve protected thus far? 601-603 Helen and Paris aren t destroying Troy - the gods are. 604-618 Look (with cleared vision) at Neptune, Juno, Minerva, & Jupiter breaking down the walls. 619-625 Save your family. I ll help you. She disappears and the gods continue. 626-631 Simile of Troy to a tree chopped down. 632-633 Aeneas heads home. 634-727 The scene at home 634-638 At home Aeneas finds Anchises unwilling to go into exile. 638-649 ANCHISES: You healthy people flee! I ve survived one sack, that s enough; leave my corpse here - the enemy will take pity and kill me. My life has been useless ever since Jupiter blasted me. 650-656 Despite family pleas Anchises refuses to leave. 657-664 AENEAS: Did you think I d abandon you? If you want us all to die, Pyrrhus will soon be here. 665-667 Oh Venus, did you save me so I could see my family killed? 668-670 Let me return to battle. 671-678 As Aeneas arms himself, CREUSA begs: Don t abandon your family! 679-686 An omen appears: a tongue of fire burns around the head of Iulus 687-691 ANCHISES: "Oh Jupiter, confirm this omen for us. 692-698 A shooting star crashes down on Mt. Ida. 699-704 ANCHISES: I give in, I will go as my son s companion into exile. 705-712 Aeneas give instructions to his household on where to meet outside Troy. 713-716 AENEAS: Let s meet at the deserted temple of Ceres outside the city. 717-720 Anchises. please carry the holy objects because I am ritually unclean.
Latin Aeneid Outline Book II Page 3 721-725 They leave the house. 726-804 Creusa disappears. 726-729 They make their way through the dark city. 730-737 Everything frightens Aeneas; Anchises sees the enemy; they leave the main road. 738-744 Creusa gets lost somehow. 745-751 Aeneas is heart-broken and decides to return to the city. 752-767 He retraces his steps, even to Priam s palace, and sees Troy in ruins. 768-774 As he calls her name, Creusa s ghost appears. 775-779 CREUSA S GHOST: The gods are taking care of me - don t worry. 780-784 Go found Italy, get a new wife. 785-789 I will serve Cybele; love our son. 790-794 She flees his grasp three times as he weeps. 795-804 Aeneas returns to Mt. Ida, finds a crowd ready for exile, picks up his father, and heads for the mountains at dawn.