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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. Why does Domitia help raise her nephew, Lucius Domitius?

2. How does Vitellius die?

3. How do the people accept Nero as the succeeding emperor after Claudius?

4. Who does Claudius want to care for Britannicus?

5. What does Claudius prohibit Sosibius to teach Britannicus?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Claudius' view of religion?

2. How does Calpurnia show her loyalty to Claudius?

3. What is the reaction of those in Hell when Claudius arrives? Why do they react this way?

4. How does Herod symbolize his manifestation as the Messiah?

5. What deceit does Messalina play on Claudius and his army commander while Claudius is in Britain?

6. What attitude does Claudius take on when he marries Agrippinilla? How does the public respond?

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

8. What is Britannicus relationship with his father? How does it change in the last years of Claudius' life?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What positive reforms and successes for the people occur during Claudius' reign? Of the examples, detail at least two of them. What are they, what is the reasoning behind the reform or success, and how does he accomplish them?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Write about justice and whether the characters get their due. Do the antagonists of the story get what they deserve? Do the protagonists have a happy ending?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,240 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample