The Aeneid by Virgil | Book 1

Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Book 1 of Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid.


Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid delves into the lives of several figures from the Trojan Saga following the fall of Troy to the Greeks. The Greeks had waged a decade-long war against the city after Troy's prince, Paris, stole Helen, the wife of Greek leader Menelaus.

On the run from the Trojans, hero Aeneas finds his journey (1200-1193 BCE) obstructed at every step by divine opposition. He ends up in Carthage, where its queen, Dido, is coerced by the goddess Juno into falling in love with him.

When he decides to leave the city to locate the fated home of his people, she kills herself. Aeneas and his followers ultimately end up in Italy, their preordained homeland, though they must stage an invasion in order to stake their claim.

Filled with characters familiar from Greek mythology, the play links the fabled Trojans to the foundation of Rome and its line of legendary leaders, including Julius Caesar.

One of the greatest Roman poets, Virgil wrote The Aeneid c. 30-19 BCE. It was commissioned by Caesar Augustus to glorify the Roman Empire. Though Virgil died before finishing the poem, it survives today.

The poem contains many powerful symbols, such as fire representing destruction and inspiration, Aeneas’s shield representing his destiny as founder of Rome, and the golden bough representing Aeneas’s pass to the realm of the dead. Other themes include fate, respect, will of the gods, and destiny of Rome.


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[smelisi]

I love listening to these and then reading the actual text. Even a good
translation can get you lost, so having these tidy little summaries
allows for you to navigate the more obscure bits of poetry and still get
what's going on.

[Sportsarecool-yeah]

bro you have no idea how bad I needed this my class starts in 5 and I haven't even read it

[GarfieldsNeighborNermal]

You have no idea how much this helped me.

[brendan]

omg i watched this same guy summarize all the odyssey and now im so excited to see they have Aeneid too. so thankful for this channel!!

[EJ.]

These videos are the only thing keeping me afloat, thank you guys for doing such a great job.

[jucelygarciasantos]

This helps so much I go to a private catholic academy and I literally have no idea about anything of this book so much help thanks

[henrysiegertsz]

It took me 61 years until I read this book, the best book I have ever read.
The Aeneid is a book you can't put down and one which compels several re-readings.

[Robby]

Thrilled to see this host covering the Aeneid. He was great on "The Iliad" and "Odyssey".

[jacquelinewolf-xwcs]

I am grateful for this channel. Thank you for making world literature accessible and understandable.

[matthias]

i love the quality on this video. thanks man

[Itz_Max]

This explanation was truly needed, way more difficult to understand than the Iliad and the odyssey

These poems literally give nothing to my adhd and dyslexia😢

[coltonmarino]

My mans carrying me for my human sit courses

[xgirlpower]

what half of the Aeneid is almost a copy of the lliad? the first or second?

[katanakate]

Thanks for this video, it helps me a lot😊

[satxcars]

I have this as a high school freshman 😭

[villanelle]

this man lowkey raps in the beginning about juno😭🤣

[jtosports]

Aneaths, faceth great battlesth and challengesth

[KELLOXUNDERBALL]

dude i feel you were too hype for this story