the plot

• Jupiter ensures that Fate is followed
• Juno puts obstacles in Aeneas' way: the storm, marriage with Dido, the war with the Latins, the intervention of Juturna
• Venus protects Aeneas in Carthage and Troy, makes Dido fall in love with him, stops him killing Helen, helps him find the golden bough, brings him a shield, and heals his wound
• Juno and Venus vie to get his approval for their plans and are suspicious of each other
• book 10 - they argue like 2 squabbling children about who is responsible for the trouble Aeneas is in
• book 12 - Jupiter sees Juno watching the fighting from a golden cloud
• they create excitement and suspense
• an immortal can appear at will and intervene in the action
• the audience can never be sure that things will go to plan
• gives another tier of action
• Venus stops Aeneas killing Helen
• the ship-turned-nymphs warn Aeneas of the danger the camp is in
• Juno removes Turnus from the battle by luring him away with a phantom of Aeneas
• Apollo comes down from his cloud to restrain Ascanius
• Faunus makes Aeneas' spear get caught in the tree stump
• Venus removes the arrow head from Aeneas' leg
• Juturna replaces Turnus' chariot-driver
• they can represent human experience, and can be seen as symbols
• when people in the Aeneid act under the influence of an immortal, they never act out of character
• Mercury appearing to Aeneas could be interpreted as his conscious suddenly striking him, Cupid's arrow simply as falling in love
• when the flame licks the head of Iulus in Troy, it's a light bulb moment - Anchises realises that he has to leave the city
• the description of the 'wedding' in the cave could be one of divine intervention with Juno and the nymphs, but equally a description of a real storm, or the storm of passion
• Amata being controlled by Allecto could be seen as giving in to the anger she already feels
• they are a poetic expression
• poetry involves using the art of words to recreate an image or idea
• After Dido's death, Irish the rainbow goddess, comes to collect a lock of her hair, a suitable calm and beautiful image after the turmoil of her anguish and suicide
• the gods are an important tool in the delivery of moral and political images
• the presence of Jupiter and Fate reinforces the purpose of Aeneas' mission
• book 2 - the flame on Ascanius' head and shooting stars are signs that Anchises must leave Troy
• book 4 - Jupiter's message brought to Aeneas by Mercury reinforces his duty to make for Italy
• the gods are symbolic of the continuity of the Roman state
• Jupiter promises Juno that the new race will pay her honour
• the Roman gods already have a shady presence in Evander's Pallanteum
• Aeneas traditionally brought to Italy the sacred relics from Troy which were later housed in the Temple of Vesta in the Forum
• the message to Romans was that the divine fire from Troy was still alive in Rome
• the gods are important in the expression of political allusions
• the gods, being immortal, can see the future
• book 1 - Jupiter's speech to Venus tells of the glorious empire under Augustus
• the shield made by Vulcan tells the story of important events in Rome's history, in particular, the battle of Actium
• book 12 - Jupiter's speech to Juno discusses the nature of the new people that will be created