Book 11 Summary Flashcards
What is Aeneas’s emotional reaction and duty after the battle?
- Aeneas mourns the loss of young Pallas, weeping as he arranges for 1,000 men to escort the prince’s body to King Evander for a proper mourning,
- which softens Evander’s grief and renews his vow to see Turnus defeated
What truce do the Latins propose, and what is its purpose?
- The Latins request a twelve‐day truce to bury their dead, and Aeneas agrees
- The peace is seen as a way to avoid further bloodshed—with some suggesting that Turnus should duel Aeneas to settle the quarrel over Lavinia
What discussion takes place at the war council called by King Latinus?
- At the council, Latinus admits doubt about victory—especially after Diomedes declines to help—and proposes ceding territory for peace
- Drances blames Turnus’s arrogance for the war and loss of fighting spirit, prompting an angry Turnus who vows to fight on, even offering a single combat with Aeneas if needed
How do the Latins react upon hearing that the Trojans are advancing?
- A messenger warns them of the Trojan approach, forcing the Latins to abandon their debate and hastily prepare the city’s defenses
- They are further reinforced by Camilla, the famed leader of the Volscian warrior maidens
How has Aeneas organized his forces as they move toward the city?
- Aeneas splits his army: light cavalry gallops toward the city while the heavily armored captains traverse a mountain path
- —information that prompts Turnus to set an ambush along that route
What role does Camilla play in the ensuing battle?
- Camilla emerges as a fierce combatant, scattering Trojan troops with her deadly spears and arrows,
- and leading a spectacular cavalry engagement that briefly strengthens the Latin position
How does divine intervention affect Camilla’s engagement in battle?
- Although Tuscan Arruns manages to pierce her with a javelin, the goddess Diana,
- who favors Camilla, sends her attendant Opis from Olympus to kill Arruns in retribution.
What are the immediate consequences for the Latin forces after Camilla’s setback?
With Camilla wounded and her leadership lost, Latin troops panic and begin to retreat to the city, suffering heavy losses in the process
How do Turnus and Aeneas reposition themselves as the night falls?
- After receiving news that the Latins have lost their leader, Turnus returns to the city, while Aeneas passes by the ambush area.
- Both leaders then return to their respective camps as darkness falls.
How does the chapter conclude in terms of military momentum?
- The chapter ends with the Trojans gaining the offensive as Aeneas’s renewed aggression
- the collapse of the Latin defenses signal a shift in the war’s momentum
