How does Gransden describe the gods' influence in the Aeneid?

• A. The gods control every action.
• B. The gods are passive observers.
• C. The gods work through human wills and desires.
• D. The gods are irrelevant.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that divine influence in the Aeneid works by shaping motives and choices, not by micromanaging every action. Gransden treats the gods as active provocateurs and guides who set up situations and tempt or urge characters, but they leave the decisive moves to human will within the frame of fate. You can see this in how Juno’s schemes create obstacles and how Jupiter and Mercury nudge Aeneas toward his destiny, yet Aeneas and others still choose how to respond—whether to persist, resist, or sacrifice personal feelings for duty. This balance shows that the epic is about how piety, duty, and personal desire intersect with divine prompting, rather than a story where the gods control every action or where they’re merely passive or irrelevant.