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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 is Pollio's profession?

2. When does Tiberius repay Germanicus for the gold coins he gave to the soldiers?

3. What notable thing does Claudius do at his first games?

4. What do Pollio and Livy argue about?

5. What is a Triumvirate?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the nobleman predict will happen based on Claudius catching the wolf cub?

2. What criticism does Pollio make about Livy?

3. How does Claudius investigate Pollio's charge that Livia murdered his father?

4. Why is Rome so vulnerable to attack by the German forces after Varus dies?

5. What three things does Antonia tell Claudius are impossible?

6. Why does Livia make sure that Claudius is gone while Germanicus is in Rome?

7. Why is it better for Claudius that Livia thinks he is an idiot?

8. Describe the book that Livia writes

9. How does Tiberius react to Germanicus's loyal quelling of the troop revolts?

10. How does Livia get rid of Postumus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Claudius divides his family into "good" Claudians and "bad" Claudians. What drove the "bad" Claudians? Write a paper addressing the question: Did madness run in the Claudian family?

Essay Topic 2

Historical fiction is a blend of fact and imagination. Write a paper pointing out when Robert Graves is basing his story on fact and when he is allowing himself to imagine what might have happened.

Essay Topic 3

Is this novel simply an entertaining story, or are there parallels to our modern world? Write an essay identifying and analyzing any parallels you can find, whether social, political, or moral, to our modern world.

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This section contains 525 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample