o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
At the end of Book 5, Aeneas’ friend Palinurus dies when he falls asleep while steering
the ship and falls into the sea, just as Neptune told Venus.
Book six opens with the Trojans making their way to the shores of Italy. They have had a
difficult journey, dealing with Dido and Aeneas’ love problems and many interferences
on behalf of the gods.
They stop their ships at Cumae and Aeneas makes a sacrifice at the Temple of Apollo
after Diana instructs him to. With this sacrifice, he is able to stay at the city of Latium.
The Trojans approach the Sibyl and she warns that there are many more trials to come.
After a long speech that Aeneas pleads to Sibyl, he asks her how he can gain
entrance to Dis, or the underworld, so he can visit his father’s spirit, as the gods
instructed him.
Sibyl tells Aeneas that he must retrieve the golden branch from the forest in order to
speak with his father. She says that if the branch does break, then it is destined for him
to see his father, but, if it does not than the fates will not allow it.
After much searching, he find the golden limb and breaks it.
He returns to Sibyl with the branch and she allows him passage to Dis, warning him once
again that he may not return alive.
After disregarding her words, he enters into the underworld to speak with his father.
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
He meets with the ferryman Charon, and while waiting, he spots Palinurus on the bank,
not yet delivered to the Underworld.
After explaining that he cannot take people still attached to their bodies, the Sibyl
shows Charon the golden branch. Satisfied, the ferryman agrees to take him across.
While moving through the levels of hell, he finds the queen Dido in the level of suicide.
After becoming saddened, he speaks to her, only becoming more upset, as she took
her life because of his departure and has been reunited with her late-husband,
Sychaeus.
Next, After traveling through the Field of Mourning (or the level dedicated to the victims
of suicide), Aeneas and the Sibyl continue moving through the Underworld.
Aeneas sees soldiers who were killed during the Trojan war in their own level of the
Underworld after moving farther down into the Underworld
Past there, is a giant fortress. Aeneas asks what the fortress is for, and he is told a
priestess that the king Rhadamanthus doles out the most cruel punishments to the worst
sinners.
In the next level, Aeneas sees beautiful green grass of a meadow. He has entered to
the level where he finds his father, Anchises. They rejoice in seeing each other.
After answering some of Aeneas' questions about the afterlife, Anchises starts to tell his
son about the fate of some Trojan descendants, including the founding of Rome by
Romulus and other cities that will be founded by Trojans.
Immediately, Aeneas wants to travel to Italy, now understanding the importance of his
journey. He returns to the beach where his men are waiting and they continue sailing.


Aeneas takes his journey to the underworld.
This is the most significant event because while he
is there, he sees Palinurus, Dido, and his father, all
three of which further the plot of the book by
giving Aeneas new information on things including
his dead friends and the journey ahead of him.






Quote: "One thing I ask: since here is said to be the gateway of the lower
king and here the marsh of overflowing Acheron, may it be granted me to
go before the face and presence of my dearest father?"
Spoken By: Aeneas Spoken To: Sibyl
Importance: This quote illustrates Aeneas' respect to the gods and
goddesses and his father because the gods and family are very important
values that Aeneas has. It is also important because he actually does end
up getting help from the gods to find his father in the underworld.
Quote: "If only the golden bough might show itself to us upon some tree in
this great wood [...]"
Spoken By: Aeneas Spoken To: spoken aloud
Importance: The quote is important because right after it two doves appear
which Aeneas' mother sent to help him on his journey, which is another
example of the gods helping Aeneas when he is having trouble because he
is goddess born.






Quote: "This is the land of shadows, of Sleep and drowsy Night; no living
bodies can take their passage in the ship of Styx."
Spoken By: Charon Spoken To: Aeneas and Sibyl
Importance: This is another example of how Aeneas gets help from the gods,
because he is still allowed passage in the ship despite being alive. It also
illustrates the dark and frightening features of the underworld where Aeneas
has to go.
Quote: "Listen to me: my tongue will now reveal the fame that is to come
from Dardan sons and what Italian children wait for you- bright souls that are
about to take your name; in them I shall unfold your fates."
Spoken By: Anchises Spoken To: Aeneas
Importance: This quote is important because it is the introduction into the
long speech in which Aeneas' father foreshadows many things and reveals
them directly to Aeneas, partly including his own fate.


Aeneas› Protagonist
› Brave- he travels into the Underworld, a place in which you are not
supposed leave from.
› Respectful of the Gods- from the minute Aeneas began his journey, he
has sacrificed to the gods every chance he got.
› Steadfast- we already know that one of Aeneas’ epithets is “Steadfast
Aeneas”. This is apparent as he enter the Underworld, scared and
frightened as he is, he still does it because it is what the Fates have
wanted.
› Values Family- Aeneas travels into the Underworld to see his dead father
Anchises› Cares for his Son- he rejoices and gives helpful advice when Aeneas visits
him
› Wise- Anchises provides very useful words of wisdom for Aeneas; like how
his lineage will continue in Italy


Sibyl› Helpful- she was willing to take Aeneas to the Underworld
once had broken the golden branch
› Assertive- when Charon insulted them, she immediately
showed him the golden branch for payment and did not
fear him
› Brave- she took Aeneas into Hell and guided him, which
was not an easy feat
Dido› Happy- Dido is now with her love and dead husband,
Sychaeus.
› Upsetting- she caused Aeneas to become upset after she
told him that she was better off with her husband

•

•

•
Intervention: Phoebus or Apollo speaks through a Sibyl by taking her body
over(oracle).
Outcome: They do what the Sibyl tells them to do and he eventually goes to
the land of the dead.
Intervention: Aeneas and the Sibyl meet Charon, the ferryman, who insults
them. The Sibyl explains their reason for being there.
Charon becomes nice to them and lets them continue because of the
Sibyl’s explanation, who gives the words of Apollo.
Intervention: Venus sends doves to help Aeneas find the golden branch
Outcome: Aeneas finds the branch, breaks it, and continues on his journey
to see his father




Epithets
-Pious Aeneas: Aeneas
-Trojan Aeneas: Aeneas
Cataloguing
- Aeneas lists several fallen soldiers when down in the Underworld
Epic Digression
- In the beginning of Book VI, it starts with the story of Daedalus and King
Minos, which originated in Crete
Speeches and Prayer
- When Aeneas visits Lantium, where he prays and sacrifices to the god
Phoebus or Apollo
- Throughout the book, there are many important speeches made. Some of
the characters that give them include:
- Anchises
- The Sibyl
- Aeneas

“[…] His name will be Silvius, your last-born son. For late in your age
Lavinia, your wife, will bear him […] and he will be a king and father
kings[…]”
›

“My son, it is beneath his auspices that the famous Rome will make
her boundaries as broad as earth itself[…]”
›

Anchises foreshadows that Aeneas will marry again, have children, and his last
born child will become a king and father kings.
Aeneas’ father is foretelling the founding of the Roman empire and its expansion
“There is Caesar, descending from the summits of the Alps, the
fortress of Monoecus and Pompey, his son-in-law, arrayed against
him with the legions of the East”
›
Anchises predicts that when Caesar comes to power, he will attempt overthrow
Pompey and Monoecus, in which a large battle will ensue.

“Here he built a splendid temple in your honor.”
- The temple symbolizes devotion to the god, Apollo.

“No sooner was this said than from the sky twin
doves descended…”
- The doves are a good omen for Aeneas when he is searching for the
golden bough.

tenacious teeth –

day and night the door of darkest Dis is open -

a whirlpool thick with sludge [...] vomits all of its swirling sand -

Grief and goading Cares have set their couches [...] pale Diseases dwell
and sad Old Age, and Fear and Hunger [...] and ugly Poverty [...] and Death
and Trials; Death's brother, Sleep [...] and War, whose fruits are death -

If you were Aeneas, and you saw
Charon leaving people on the banks of
the river, what would you do or say to
Charon? Explain.