A Reading of Virgil's Aeneid Book 2

Book excerpt: This book is aimed primarily at English-speaking Classical Civilization students taking courses in Virgil, epic and myth at schools, colleges and universities, but will also be of interest to students reading Virgil Aeneid 2 in Latin and to the general reader. The book provides something new for those studying Virgil in translation, offering a detailed and in-depth literary analysis of a single book of the Aeneid, one of the most famous and appealing parts of the whole poem. The book provides a brief introduction to Virgil and the Aeneid in general, and Book 2 in particular. It also offers literary analysis, in order to enhance critical appreciation and plain enjoyment, making the book really come alive. At the end of each chapter exercises, topics for investigation, and references to other scholars and Classical authors are included to extend the engagement with Virgil. At the end of the book, Appendix A contains translations of other versions of the fall of Troy, and Appendix B summarizes the rest of Aeneas’ narrative in Book 3 of the Aeneid (with translation of, and comment, on key passages).