Quiz on The Aeneid of Virgil

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B. Part A What is the tone of the excerpt from The Aeneid of Virgil?

• Grim and wretched

• Concerned and calming

• Fearless and questioning

• Ghoulish and emotionless

Answer explanation

The tone of the excerpt from The Aeneid is best described as 'grim and wretched' due to its themes of suffering and despair, reflecting the harsh realities faced by the characters.

Part B Which two quotes from The Aeneid best support the answer to Part A?

• A whirlpool thick / with sludge, its giant eddy seething, vomits / all of its swirling sand into Cocytus. (lines 2–4)

• Alone / he poles the boat and tends the sails . . . (lines 9–10)

• And here a multitude was rushing, swarming / shoreward, with men and mothers, bodies of / high-hearted heroes stripped of life . . . (lines 13–15)

• thick as the leaves that with the early frost / of autumn drop and fall within the forest, / or as the birds that flock along the beaches . . . (lines 18–20)

• But Charon, sullen boatman, / now takes these souls, now those . . . (lines 25–26)

Answer explanation

The first quote illustrates the chaotic and tumultuous nature of the underworld, while the second quote uses vivid imagery to emphasize the overwhelming number of souls, supporting the theme of death and loss in The Aeneid.

Read this excerpt from lines 5–9 of The Aeneid. Grim Charon is the squalid ferryman, the guardian of these streams, these rivers; his white hairs lie thick, disheveled on his chin; his eyes are fires that stare, a filthy mantle hangs down his shoulder by a knot. . . . What is the effect of the imagery in this excerpt?

• It illustrates the speaker’s fears about the boats.

• It describes the boatman’s fears about his duties.

• It shows that the boatman is fearsome and determined.

• It illuminates that the speaker is uncertain and troubled.

Answer explanation

The imagery of Grim Charon, with his disheveled appearance and fiery eyes, conveys a fearsome presence. This description emphasizes his determination as a guardian of the rivers, highlighting his intimidating role as the ferryman.

What is the meaning of the phrase old age in a god is tough and green in line 12 of The Aeneid?

• As gods age, they stop taking care of themselves.

• When gods get old, they create terror for everyone.

• Old gods may seem powerful, but they are helpless.

• Aging takes a toll on gods, but they are still powerful.

Answer explanation

The phrase 'old age in a god is tough and green' suggests that while aging affects gods, they retain their power. This aligns with the correct choice, indicating that despite the toll of aging, gods remain formidable.

What is the effect of the imagery in lines 13–27 of The Aeneid?

• It gives modern readers a deeper understanding of the speaker.

• It forces readers to consider what their five senses tell them.

• It uses old scare tactics to thrill modern readers.

• It creates a sense of horrific yearning in readers.

Answer explanation

The imagery in lines 13–27 evokes intense emotions, creating a sense of horrific yearning in readers. This vivid depiction draws them into the speaker's turmoil, enhancing their emotional engagement with the text.

What is the effect of the words used to describe the whirlpool in lines 2–3 of The Aeneid?

• The poet conveys a tone of disgust.

• The narrator is shown to be observant.

• The narrator indirectly reveals his regret.

• The poet appeals to the reader’s sense of smell.

Answer explanation

In lines 2–3 of The Aeneid, the poet uses vivid and harsh language to describe the whirlpool, creating a sense of disgust. This choice of words emphasizes the chaotic and repulsive nature of the scene, aligning with the correct answer.

What is the effect of the narrator’s use of the word you throughout the excerpt from Hades: Lord of the Dead?

• It makes the reader feel like part of the story.

• It demonstrates how the reader knows the characters.

• It gives the reader insight into the narrator’s frame of mind.

• It shows what the narrator is thinking as he talks to the reader.

Answer explanation

The use of 'you' engages the reader directly, creating a sense of involvement in the narrative. This choice makes the reader feel like part of the story, enhancing their connection to the events and characters.

How is Cerberus characterized by both words and illustrations in Hades: Lord of the Dead?

• As loyal and territorial

• As welcoming but fierce

• As frightening and ferocious

• As worrisome but trustworthy

Answer explanation

Cerberus is depicted as 'welcoming but fierce' in Hades: Lord of the Dead, showing a dual nature where he can be approachable yet intimidating, reflecting his role as a guardian of the underworld.

According to the description of the crowded shores of Erebus in Hades: Lord of the Dead, how do the anonymous dead view the living?

• As nothing at all

• As sad memories

• As water creatures

• As irresistible objects

Answer explanation

The anonymous dead in Erebus view the living as 'irresistible objects' because they are drawn to them, reflecting a longing or desire for life that the dead can no longer experience.

What is the author’s most likely purpose in telling the story of Hades: Lord of the Dead as a graphic novel?

• To engage a new generation of readers in an ancient story

• To use the story to demonstrate the power of images over words

• To allow readers to play the role of the hero in a mythological story

• To present the story so that it can be more easily adapted into a film

Answer explanation

The author likely aims to engage a new generation of readers by presenting Hades: Lord of the Dead as a graphic novel, making the ancient story more accessible and appealing to modern audiences.