Evidence of a Hero Answer Key

In this activity, students act as literary attorneys building a case that Aeneas is a true epic hero. For each of six traits-Pietas, Leadership, Bravery, Compassion, Emotional Struggle, and Respect for Fate-they define the quality, find a passage or paraphrase from The Aeneid that illustrates it, and explain how that evidence supports their claim. This task develops text-evidence analysis and character interpretation skills. Learners strengthen their ability to connect abstract virtues with concrete narrative moments, deepening appreciation for Virgil’s portrayal of duty and heroism. Teachers can also extend this into oral presentations or comparative essays on heroism in classical literature.

Curriculum Matched Skills

English Language Arts – Reading Literature: Character Analysis and Theme Development

English Language Arts – Writing: Evidence-Based Reasoning

English Language Arts – Speaking and Listening: Argumentation and Justification

Classical Studies – Roman Ideals and Virtue Ethics

This worksheet is part of our Aeneid collection.