CHARACTERS FROM THE AENEID
(MAIN, DIVINE AND MINOR)
The hero: Aeneas
The secondary heroes: Dido and Turnus
Minor human characters
The main divine characters
Minor divine characters
LEARNING INTENTION
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Today we will be learning about the characters
within the Aeneid and their roles within the text.
This will further develop our understanding of
the characters and the text as a whole.
RECAPPING QUESTIONS
Give two reasons as to how the structure of the
Aeneid contributes to our understanding of the
poem?
 Why is the poem divided into two parts?
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ACTIVITY
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Create a series of pictorials (or you can bullet
point or brainstorm) using the information below
about the following characters.
THE HERO: AENEAS
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National hero of Rome’s national epic.
He embodies all the effort that went into creating the
Roman race. Putting national interests before
oneself.
Brings from Troy symbols of the gods (Penates and
Lares). This demonstrates the continuity between
Troy and Rome.
He is sometimes interpreted as being a puppet,
controlled by surrounding forces BUT Aeneas is only
commanded by those above, he is able to consciously
make his own decisions. Unlike other characters he
has his own free will.
He is pious ( good, faithful) and shows pity (grieves
for his fallen comrades).
THE SECONDARY HEROES: DIDO AND
TURNUS
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Dido: escaped from Tyre (a Phoenician kingdom)
after her husband was murdered. Queen of Carthage.
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Venus convinces Dido to fall in love with Aeneas.
Juno ensures that they become lovers.
Dido thinks that their liaison is stronger than Aeneas’ call
to found Italy.
Dido finds out that he received a message from above and
intends to leave her before Aeneas has a chance to tell her
in person. She plots to commit suicide.
Her life is pestered with the consistent meddling of the
gods and is driven to commit suicide. She is a passionate
character and is not strong enough to resist life’s blows.
Thus she inevitably becomes one of Fate’s unfortunate
victims.
She is a secondary hero though because originally she is a
caring, strong leader of her people.
SECONDARY HEROES: DIDO AND TURNUS
CONT.
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Turnus: King of the Rutulians, betrothed to
Lavinia (the Latin king’s daughter).
Juno makes Turnus jealous of Aeneas and the
Trojans in Italy.
 Strong fighter, has fought in many wars.
 A type of Latin ‘Achilles’.
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MINOR HUMAN CHARACTERS
Acestes: Trojan king of Sicily.
 Achates: Aeneas' close companion and friend.
 Anchises: Aged father of Aeneas.
 Anna: Dido's sister and confidant.
 Ascanius: Son of Aeneas and Creusa.
 Evander: King of the Arcadians; enemy of the
Latins; ally of Aeneas.
 Latinus: King of Latium.
 Lavinia: Daughter of Latinus
 Palinurus: Helmsman on Aeneas' ship.
 Pallas: Son of Evander, who entrusts him to
Aeneas to learn warfare; slain by Turnus.
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QUIRKY QUESTION
Who wrote The Divine Comedy (1200)? Clue:
Virgil is depicted in the underworld.
 Dante
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MAIN DIVINE CHARACTERS
Juno: Queen of the gods; implacable opponent of
the Trojans.
 Jupiter: (Zeus): Father of the gods.
 Venus: Goddess of love and fertility; mother of
Aeneas.
 Neptune: God of the sea.
 Mercury: Messenger of the gods; master thief;
guardian of commerce; guide of the dead.
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MINOR DIVINE CHARACTERS
Aeolus: God of the winds.
 Allecto: A Fury who, at Juno's bidding, rouses
both Amata and Turnus against Aeneas and the
Trojans, and provokes war.
 Amor: Son of Venus; Cupid.
 Iris: Juno's messenger.
 Vulcan (Hephaestus): God of fire and the forge;
forges new armour for Aeneas.
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ACTIVITY
Divide yourselves into home groups, these are the
groups you will report back to.
 Decide who will go to each key group (1.
Supernatural characters, gods and other 2.
Household gods, minor gods 3. Minor characters)
 Answer the following questions in the groups
then go back to your home groups and report
back to them about your topic.
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ACTIVITY
Write down the names and any information of
the characters you have not got.
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Give direct examples from the text for at least three
of the characters mentioned on the cards.
1. Supernatural
characters
2. Household gods
3. Minor Characters
Why does Jupiter play
an important role in
the Aeneid?
Explain how Venus
helps or hinders fate?
Give examples.
Why are these gods
important?
What is the function of
the gods?
Create a Venn
diagram of the
characters, sorting
them into appropriate
groups.
Why are these
characters of
significance?