Day 4

The Aeneid Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    Is Turnus the "bad guy" of The Aeneid? Why or why not?

    On the one hand, some students might say, Turnus does not fit the conventional mold: he's manipulated by the gods, and so he cannot be seen as blameworthy for the war he sets in motion. But on the other hand, other students might protest, Turnus is still more a villain than a victim: after all, he represents the destructive force of furor that is antithetical to Aeneas's virtuous pietas and that Aeneas must decisively defeat.

  2. 2

    What is the aesthetic purpose of sad or tragic stories in classical literature? What about in The Aeneid?

    The Aeneid has more than its fair share of sad moments, but as some...

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