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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Claudius die?

2. Why does Claudius celebrate with a ten-day festival and a mock sea battle?

3. Why does Messalina poison Vinicius?

4. On Claudius' return to Rome from Calpurnia's home, whose carriage does he run into?

5. How is Telegonius proved a runaway slave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Claudius call for support from the palace guards? What about them does he trust above others?

2. Why does Claudius seem to favor Nero above Britannicus? What is his true plan?

3. How does Posides help win the war against Britain?

4. Despite citing three different accounts of Claudius' death, what is in common with all of them?

5. What punishments does the court in Hell consider for Claudius?

6. What is Claudius' view of religion?

7. How do the Senate and people react to Messalina and Claudius' separation?

8. How does Silius react to Claudius when they meet for his trial? Does Silius show malicious intent in his acts or as a victim of Messalina?

9. How do rumors that Lucius is protected by double cobras come about?

10. How are the Romans able to surprise the Britains in the last battle to Colchester? What maneuvers do they take that seem impossible?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Herod advises Claudius to trust no one. How does this advice turn back on him? How is it good advice for Claudius after all?

Essay Topic 2

What are the causes and effects of Caligula's rule? How does Caligula become emperor? During his rule, what state is the empire in? What major changes are observed under Caligula?

Essay Topic 3

According to Claudius, what is the purpose of the book, and does it achieve its goal? In what ways does it achieve its goal? If it does not, what is missing? What does it achieve?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,272 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample