CLASSICS - Aeneid Book 4

Classical Civilisation: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 4 (OCR A Level)

This KS5 lesson is designed for OCR A Level Classical Civilisation and focuses on Book 4 of Virgil’s Aeneid. Students are expected to have read the book before the lesson, with a short recap at the beginning to consolidate the key events and characters.

The lesson is built around the ‘Troy for Thought’ question: Do we sympathise with Dido? Students revisit this question throughout the lesson, using textual evidence to develop and challenge their interpretations.

Students complete an in-depth analysis of Dido’s speech, exploring how Virgil presents her emotions and motivations. The lesson then introduces Fama, the personification of Rumour, considering her symbolic significance and the role she plays within the narrative. Students also analyse the presentation of Aeneas, before reviewing a teacher-modelled exemplar to demonstrate how evidence can be developed into a strong analytical response.

The lesson concludes with students answering the central ‘Troy for Thought’ question, drawing together their ideas from across the lesson. An independent worksheet is included to consolidate learning, and students are set the task of reading Book 6 in preparation for the next lesson.

This resource is suitable for Year 12 or Year 13 students studying OCR A Level Classical Civilisation. It is intentionally student-led, encouraging discussion, close analysis, and independent interpretation while developing confidence with essay-style responses.