Which scholar argues that the books in the first half mirror the second half in subject?

• A. G.E. Duckworth - Structure of the Aeneid
• B. Denis Feeney - Plot
• C. Emma Buckley - Furor
• D. Gerry Nusbaum - Structure of the Aeneid

Answer: (A)

Acknowledging a deliberate symmetry in the Aeneid’s design. G. E. Duckworth argues that the books in the first half are matched by the books in the second half in terms of subject, so the epic unfolds as a mirrored structure rather than a random sequence of episodes. This means the hero’s journey, piety, duties, and the shaping of Rome that appear early are revisited in the later books from a corresponding angle, bringing the whole work into a cohesive, balanced whole. That mirrored subject across halves is the distinctive claim Duckworth makes, which is why this option is the best fit. The other scholars focus on different aspects—plot organization, the furor motif, or general structure—without asserting this specific half-by-half mirroring of subject.