Aeneid Structure: Books, Themes, and Characters
Structure of the Aeneid
The first six books of the Aeneid mirror Homer’s Odyssey. They describe the trials and adventures of the Trojans, who roamed the Mediterranean in search of the promised land that fate assigned to them:
- Book I: Aeneas, wandering for seven years after burying his father, departs from Sicily. Juno unleashes a storm that washes the Trojans up at Carthage, under the hospitality of Queen Dido, through the intercession of Venus, Aeneas’s mother.
- Book II: During a banquet, Dido asks Aeneas to describe the images and memories of the last day of life and the destruction of Troy. Dido begins to fall in love with Aeneas.
- Book III: This book tells of the adventures from escaping Troy to arriving in Carthage.
- Book IV: The story of the love affair of Aeneas and Dido to the tragic outcome of the Queen’s suicide, after being abandoned. It is considered the masterpiece of the Aeneid.
- Book V: This book takes place in Sicily, following the flight of Aeneas from Carthage. Funerals are held for Anchises, Aeneas’s father. The maturation of the hero Aeneas is complete.
- Book VI: Aeneas receives a direct vision of his future in the descent to the underworld, where he sees the past, present, and future.
The following six books mirror Homer’s Iliad. They tell all the vicissitudes of the Trojans until they can settle on Italian soil. This is the central theme of the Aeneid: the conquest, pacification, and settlement in Italy.
- Book VII: Description of the Tiber. Juno interferes and causes a war with the Latins.
- Book VIII: The Evander Embassy and its alliance with him. Preparation for war against the Rutulians (Turnus, their king, was the ex-boyfriend of the daughter of Latinus, promised to Aeneas).
- Book IX: This is the episode of Nisus and Euryalus: Euryalus is killed during a skirmish. Nisus, instead of fleeing, decides to avenge the death of his friend, dying in the attempt (as a symbol of friendship).
- Book X: This book tells of the Trojan victory against the Rutulians.
- Book XI: A series of rapid events develops, among them the story of Camilla, a Volscian warrior who died fighting on the side of the Rutulians, following numerous exploits.
- Book XII: The signing of a peace treaty that the Rutulians break, forcing Aeneas to face Turnus in single combat, whom he defeats and puts to death. Destiny has been fulfilled.
Dual Structure
According to Hernandez Vista, the Aeneid has a dual structure, allowing it to be divided into intense books and conciliatory books, each of which seeks to achieve a purpose: the intense books intend to cause turmoil in the deep layers of our psyche. The conciliatory books intend to cause joy and spiritual relaxation through a welcome sight and flattery of the senses.
Tripartite Structure
From another point of view, the Aeneid has another tripartite structure:
- Books I-IV narrate the stay of Aeneas in Carthage.
- Books V-VIII describe the trip to Latium and the preparations for war.
- Books IX-XII tell the outcome of the war.
The Character of Aeneas
Virgil chooses a character that embodies the ideal of the proper Roman relationship between man and ancestor-gods: piety. This is devotion and generous dedication to the ancestors and gods: the pius Aeneas.
Virgil’s Influence
Virgil was famous in life. His works were used as school texts before the poet’s death. He created a kind of mythology that appeared to embody great figures. He influenced all European literature, both epic and otherwise, from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, including authors like Dante, Boccaccio, and Shakespeare.