Which scholar links the end of Troy to the beginning of Rome via a phoenix image, reflecting a structural bridge?

• A. Gerry Nusbaum - Book 2
• B. Gerry Nusbaum - Structure of the Aeneid
• C. Denis Feeney - Plot
• D. Emma Buckley - Narration of the Aeneid

Answer: (A)

This tests how symbolic imagery functions as a structural hinge in the Aeneid, linking Troy’s fall to Rome’s rise. Gerry Nusbaum, in his Book 2 analysis, reads a phoenix image as a deliberate bridge that ties the end of Troy to the beginnings of Rome. The phoenix, as a symbol of rebirth and future destiny, acts as a connective thread through the epic’s architecture, helping to fuse the two historical-narrative moments into one coherent arc. That focus on how image and structure interact is why this interpretation stands out: it shows Virgil using a single emblem to knit the tale from the fall of Troy to the rise of Rome. The other scholars address different aspects—plot progression or narrative technique—without foregrounding this phoenix-based structural link.