1. The Aeneid
Book 2 – A Summary

2. Important Characters Trojans Aeneas Creusa Anchises Ascanius
Laocoon Priam Hecuba Cassandra
Hector Paris
Greeks
Agamemnon Achilles Diomede Sinon
Ulysses Pyrrhus Calchas

3. What has happened so far?
Aeneas has fled Troy with his followers following its destruction
He is heading to Italy but has been blown off course by Juno and Aeolus
He has arrived in Libya at Carthage and meets Dido, the queen.
Dido persuades Aeneas to tell about the destruction of Troy

4. Events
L.1-20 Aeneas agrees to tell the story of the fall of Troy, although it would cause him great distress, and explains how the Greeks built the Trojan Horse.
L The Greeks leave and the Trojans debate whether to bring the horse into the city.
L Laocoon interrupts the discussion and warns of the threat of the horse. He then throws a spear into the horse’s belly.

5. L. 57-75. The Trojans find Sinon and bring him
L The Trojans find Sinon and bring him forward, and proceed to ask him his story.
L Sinon begins to tell his (made up) story about how he was persecuted by Ulysses, and begs for mercy.
L The Trojans are moved by Sinon’s story and ask him to continue. Sinon tells his full story; that he was chosen as a human sacrifice to ensure good weather for a Greek retreat. He escaped and now begs for mercy.

6. L. 145-198. The Trojans decide not to kill Sinon. Sinon
L The Trojans decide not to kill Sinon. Sinon explains that if the Trojans bring the horse into the city they will destroy the Greeks, but if they leave it outside then Troy will be destroyed.
L The Trojans are finally convinced by two serpents emerging from the sea and killing Laocoon and his two sons. They see this as an omen punishing him for attacking the horse previously.

7. L. 228-249. The Trojans are frightened by Laocoon’s
L The Trojans are frightened by Laocoon’s death and agree that it was punishment for attacking the horse. They then take the horse into the city, celebrating.
L When night-time arrives, the Greek fleet return. Sinon lets Ulysses and eight others out of the horse and they in turn open the city gates for the other Greeks to enter Troy.
L As the Greeks enter the city Aeneas is asleep. He dreams that Hector warns him to flee the city. This is Aeneas’ first mention of himself, what does it reveal about his character?

8. L. 298-317. Aeneas is woken by the attack of the city. He
L Aeneas is woken by the attack of the city. He sees the Greeks attacking and fires raging, and so puts on his armour.
L A priest rushes to Anchises house to tell Aeneas that Troy is lost; however Aeneas still throws himself into the fighting in an effort to save the city.
L Aeneas interrupts his own story to let out an exclamation of grief as he remembers heaps of bodies lying in the streets of Troy

9. L. 370-401. Aeneas and his men are mistaken for Greeks
L Aeneas and his men are mistaken for Greeks and then easily kill a group of Greek soldiers. They disguise themselves in Greek armour.
L Aeneas sees Cassandra being dragged away and they rush to help. In the fighting, Aeneas’ disguise is uncovered.
L Aeneas’ men are separated in the fighting. Aeneas finds himself at Priam’s palace, and enters through a secret door.

10. L. 469-495. Achilles’ son Pyrrhus is leading the Greeks,
L Achilles’ son Pyrrhus is leading the Greeks, and breaks the door down to Priam’s palace.
L The Greeks flood into the palace, killing as they go. Even though he is elderly, Priam begins to arm himself, but is persuaded not to fight by his wife, Hecuba.
L Pyrrhus slaughters Polites, the son of Priam and Hecuba, before his parents’ eyes. Priam insults Pyrrhus’ honour (kleos). Pyrrhus then kills Priam in an undignified manner.

11. L. 559-566. Aeneas then thinks of his own family, and
L Aeneas then thinks of his own family, and suddenly feels very alone.
L Aeneas then sees Helen hiding in a temple. Incensed by what has happened to the city he loves he decides to kill her.
L Venus restrains Aeneas and prevents him from killing Helen. She lifts the clouds from his eyes to reveal to him that the other gods are working to destroy Troy and that there is nothing he can do to save the city. She then tells him to focus on saving his own family.

12. L. 624-670. Aeneas returns home and takes a last look at
L Aeneas returns home and takes a last look at Troy, falling like a huge tree. However Anchises refuses to leave with him, insisting on dying in the city. Therefore Aeneas puts his armour back on intending to return to the fighting.
L Creusa begs Aeneas not to leave them again. At this point Ascanius’ hair appears to set on fire. Anchises interprets this as an omen and asks the gods to confirm it.
L The gods show a sign to confirm Anchises’ statement.

13. L. 707-744. Aeneas tells his family what they must do. They set
L Aeneas tells his family what they must do. They set off, but are panicked and end up running. In the confusion Creusa is lost.
L Aeneas turns back into Troy to look for his wife, disregarding his own safety. He searches his own house and Anchises, finding them in flames. He also finds the royal palace occupied by the Greeks.
L Aeneas runs through the streets, frantically calling Creusa’s name. At this point Creusa’s ghost appears and speaks to him.
L Creusa tells Aeneas not to worry. The gods have decided they should be apart but she tells him that he will find happiness in the West. Creusa tells Aeneas that he has a new set of responsibilities now.

14. The Major Theme How does Virgil treat the destruction of Troy?
Think about:
How Virgil makes sure the Trojans don’t look too bad considering they lost the battle.
The role of the gods
The idea of duty