Plot
Characters
Themes
Symbols and other language features
BOOK VI
LEARNING INTENTION

In order to gain a greater understanding of the
Aeneid we need to look at the plot, characters,
themes and symbols within Book VI as this will
externally assessed.
QUIZ
Where exactly is Cumae? How does its location
show that at least parts of Aeneas’ destiny has
come true?
 What was the Sibyl’s function?
 In order to speak with the spirit of his father
(Anchises), where does Aeneas have to go?
 What is Charon’s function

PLOT: PUT INFORMATION (USING YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE, THE
AENEID AND THE FINDLAY TEXT [P28-30]) IN THE APPROPRIATE
AREAS. FIND A QUOTE FOR EACH SECTION.
DIANA, SIBYL AND THE GOLDEN BOUGH
The Sibyl calls them to sacrifice. Aeneas prays
to Apollo, the god of prophecy, to continue to
help the Trojans. Aeneas promises to build a
temple once his city is founded.
 The Sibyl becomes angry because at this point
she has not been overcome with the spirit of
Apollo, so she begins to tell a horrible prophecy.

JOURNEY THROUGH THE UNDERWORLD
Aeneas and the Sibyl enter the underworld.
Charon takes them across the river Styx.
 They float past three-headed Cerberus and the
Sibyl passes him a honeyed wheat cake (to
appease him) .

AENEAS AND DIDO MEET
They pass into the realm of suicides and those
who died because of destructive love. Aeneas
sees Dido and reiterates that he did not want to
leave.
 This scene ends the story of Dido and Aeneas.

TARTARUS
They move on into the Elysian fields.
 Anchises pulls Aeneas and the Sibyl towards
him and prophesises later Roman history.
There is Aeneas' last born son and then
Romulus. After them, Julius and Augustus
Caesar will bring about another golden age.

RETURN THROUGH THE GATES
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"There are two gates of Sleep: the one is said
to be of horn, through it an easy exit
is given to true Shades; the other is made
of polished ivory, perfect, glittering,
but through that way the Spirits send false dreams into the world
above. And here Anchises, when he is done with words,
accompanies the Sibyl and his son together; and he sends them
through the gate of ivory.“
Aeneas rejoins his companions.
ACTIVITY
Read p28-30 of the Findlay text and complete
task 1 on p30.
 Answer these questions:

 Who
ordered Aeneas to offer an immediate
sacrifice and on what authority did she do so?
 What was the point of Aeneas’ request about not
committing prophecies to “leaves”? (See Bk III p88)
 What are the eight main points of the Sibyl’s
prophecy?
CHARACTERS
Name: ________
Activity: read p48 of
the Findlay text
(section on Bk VI).
Then along with your
own knowledge copy
and complete the
template.
Book I __________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Book II __________________________
________________________________
________________________________
Book IV__________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
Displays pietas, heroism, human
Book VI __________________________
feelings, obeys his father, fully
_________________________________
accepts his mission
_________________________________
FILL IN THE BLANKS
Apollo
Sibyl is the prophetess of ____.
The ____
Initially she
Horrible future for Aeneas and his
prophesises a _____
followers but eventually she is won over by Aeneas.
Golden _____
Bough
She tells him about the _____
and guides
underworld
him through the __________.
Dido in the realm of suicides. This
 Aeneas meets ____
meeting effectively ends her story. She flees to her
Sychaeus
husband, _______
in the shadows.
Anchises tells Aeneas about the judgement of souls
 ______
and about Rome’s future.

QUESTIONS ON CHARACTERS
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Who is the Achates mentioned on p152? What is his
predominant characteristic?
What has been Misenus’ most notable characteristic?
In challenging the gods Misenus has committed the
unforgivable sin. What was it?
While preparing for Misenus’ funeral Venus intervenes
with Aeneas’ life. What does she do and why does she
do it?
Which friend, recently lost, greets Aeneas in the
underworld?
What important figure does Aeneas meet in the Fields of
Mourning?
QUESTIONS CONT.
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Aeneas’ prayer is addressed to three personages or
groups of personages. Who are they and what specific
request does Aeneas make of each?
What are the eight main points of the Sibyl’s prophecy?
How did Apollo’s prophetess convince Charon that he
should admit Aeneas to Erebos on p159?
Just within the entrance to Hades are four types of
people considered innocent of evil deeds. List these four
types.
“For there is Caesar” (p171 line 6). Explain why Virgil
has Ascanius’ name changed to Iulus.
THEME: LIFE AND DEATH

Epicureanism (type of philosophy)
 Death
should not be feared.
 E.g. Aeneas goes through the underworld not
fearing death.
THEME: PATRIOTISM/ THE MISSION OF ROME
Anchises’ prophecy
 Two highpoints – the prophecy of Augustus
(legacy and ends in the death of his heir,
Marcellus) and the statement of Rome’s
mission (to civilise the world).
 Write down the five main points of Anchises’
prophecy,

AUGUSTUS THE “SECOND FOUNDER” OF ROME
“Caesar Augustus, a god’s son, who shall the golden
age rebuild through Latian fields once ruled by
Saturn, and push far his sway o’er Garamantians
and the tribes of Ind….”
Read the handout Augustus the ‘second Aeneas’
and then answer the following
Questions:
What is meant by the passage above?
VIRGIL’S UNDERWORLD
Elysium – dwelling place of privileged few.
Homer first mentions it in the Odyssey.
 Virgil has taken ideas from Homer’s Odyssey
and changed them to fit his narrative.

 Aeneas
meets Palinurus (Homer’s Elpenor)
 Unforgiving Dido (“” Ajax)
VIRGIL’S UNDERWORLD CONT.

Symbolic of Aeneas’ growth – turning his back
his past and looking towards the future.
IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
The Golden Bough – symbol of light in
darkness and life in death. Descent of a living
person to the world of the dead.
 The Gate of Ivory – difficult symbol to interpret.
Aeneas and the Sibyl are false dreams rather
than actual figures?
 Labyrinth of Daedalus symbolises the journey
to the underworld.

LANGUAGE FEATURES
Find the following in the Aeneid, identify the
language feature and explain its effect.
 The Sibyl’s prophecy
 Invocation of the gods of the underworld
 Monsters at the entrance of the underworld
 Styx River
 Burial of Misenus
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