CLASSICS - Aeneid Book 2

Classical Civilisation: Virgil’s Aeneid Book 2 (OCR A Level)

This KS5 lesson is designed for OCR A Level Classical Civilisation and focuses on Book 2 of Virgil’s Aeneid. Students are expected to have read the book before the lesson, allowing lesson time to concentrate on analysis and interpretation. A short summary video is used at the start to recap the key events.

The lesson is centred around the recurring ‘Troy for Thought’ question: Is Aeneas a warrior or a leader? Students revisit this question throughout the lesson, using evidence from the text to develop and refine their interpretations.

Students explore symbolism within Book 2 before completing close analysis of two key extracts. The lesson then returns to the central question through Creusa’s speech, encouraging students to consider how Virgil presents Aeneas’ transition from warrior to leader and the responsibilities that shape his destiny.

The lesson concludes with an independent worksheet (included with the resource), allowing students to consolidate their analysis before completing a short task 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 deliberately student-led, encouraging discussion, close reading, and independent interpretation while preparing students for essay-based assessment.