Virgil (70–19 BCE)

Question 1

When and where was Virgil born?

Answer 1

Virgil was born on October 15, 70 BCE, near Mantua in northern Italy.

Question 2

What is Virgil’s full name?

Answer 2

Publius Vergilius Maro.

Question 3

What are Virgil’s three major works?

Answer 3

The Aeneid, The Eclogues, and The Georgics.

Question 4

What is the Aeneid about?

Answer 4

The Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, and his journey to found the Roman people.

Question 5

Which epic poem is considered Virgil’s greatest work?

Answer 5

The Aeneid.

Question 6

What is the main theme of The Aeneid?

Answer 6

The destiny of Rome and the virtues of duty and sacrifice.

Question 7

What is the subject of Virgil’s Eclogues?

Answer 7

Pastoral themes that idealize rural life.

Question 8

What does Virgil’s Georgics focus on?

Answer 8

Agriculture and rural life, blending practical farming advice with philosophical reflections.

Question 9

Who was the Roman emperor during the time Virgil wrote the Aeneid?

Answer 9

Emperor Augustus.

Question 10

What political event influenced Virgil’s work?

Answer 10

The rise of Augustus and the transformation of Rome from a republic to an empire.

Question 11

Why did Augustus want Virgil to write the Aeneid?

Answer 11

To celebrate Rome’s origins and glorify Augustus’s leadership.

Question 12

How did Virgil influence later writers like Dante?

Answer 12

Dante modeled his Divine Comedy on the Aeneid and chose Virgil as his guide in the poem.

Question 13

What legacy did Virgil’s works leave in Western literature?

Answer 13

Virgil’s works became foundational to Western literature, influencing generations of writers and poets.

Question 14

Which Roman values are emphasized in The Aeneid?

Answer 14

Duty, sacrifice, and responsibility.

Question 15

How did Virgil feel about public speaking?

Answer 15

He was terrified of public speaking and once fainted when asked to recite his work in front of Augustus.

Question 16

What controversy surrounds the completion of The Aeneid?

Answer 16

Virgil requested that the Aeneid be burned because he felt it was unfinished, but Augustus had it preserved.

Question 17

What was one way the Aeneid was interpreted in the Middle Ages?

Answer 17

Some believed it contained prophecies about the birth of Christ.

Question 18

When did Virgil die?

Answer 18

Virgil died on September 21, 19 BCE.

Question 19

What request did Virgil make regarding his Aeneid before his death?

Answer 19

He asked for it to be burned because he felt it was incomplete.

Question 20

What kind of life did Virgil prefer?

Answer 20

Virgil preferred a quiet, private, and reclusive life.

Question 21

What period of Roman history did Virgil live through?

Answer 21

The final decades of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus.

Question 22

What major historical event occurred during Virgil’s lifetime?

Answer 22

The assassination of Julius Caesar and the subsequent rise of Augustus.

Question 23

How did Virgil influence Roman culture?

Answer 23

He helped shape Roman identity through his portrayal of Aeneas as the ideal Roman hero.

Question 24

What was Virgil’s connection to Augustus?

Answer 24

Virgil was supported by Augustus and his advisor Maecenas, who served as his patrons.

Question 25

What major theme is explored in The Georgics?

Answer 25

The relationship between humans and nature, especially in the context of agriculture.

Question 26

What does the term ‘Pax Romana’ refer to, and how does it relate to Virgil?

Answer 26

The Pax Romana refers to the period of peace and stability under Augustus, which influenced Virgil’s work.