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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. What kind of war does Centurion Quintus Hilarion say is "ever the most deadly kind, for it recks nothing of consequences" (15) in Chapter 1?

2. Approximately how many men has Marcus's garrison lost (killed or wounded) by the end of the second attack in Chapter 3?

3. What does the word "Tophet" (40) refer to in Chapter 3?

4. What word from Chapter 9 means a feeling of unease or embarrassment?

5. What does the spear that Esca carries mark him as, according to the narrator in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. What rumor regarding the Eagle does the Legate describe in Chapter 10?

2. What does Marcus consider doing in his future in Chapter 9?

3. What information does Marcus learn of the conclusion of the battle in Chapter 4?

4. When and where is The Eagle of the Ninth set?

5. How does Marcus feel about the end of his career with the Eagles?

6. How did Tribune Placidus insult Esca at the hunt in Chapter 6?

7. What does the rose in the wine jar symbolize?

8. What do the Centurions discover to be making noise outside the fort in Chapter 3? How do they respond?

9. Who is brought in to examine Marcus's leg in Chapter 8? Why?

10. How does Cottia feel about Roman culture and about her aunt?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What superstition and fear is related regarding the Ninth Legion? What happened to the Ninth Legion? How does Marcus discover this information? What does this information mean to Marcus?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Uncle Aquila in the novel. How old is Uncle Aquila? Why had Marcus never met his uncle until now? Where does Uncle Aquila live? How would you describe his demeanor? How does he contribute to the plot?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the historical context of The Eagle of the Ninth. When does the story take place? Where is it set? What were the social, political, and international atmospheres at this time? How does the author incorporate that history into her novel?

(see the answer keys)

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