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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. Who are Felix and Chrestus?

2. At Cicero's home, whom does Gordianus meet?

3. How important was social class in ancient Rome?

4. What is the House of Swans?

5. What question does Cicero ask Gordianus upon first meeting him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Polia think she is protecting Eco by lying about him witnessing the attack?

2. Cicero and Sextus Roscius (pater) lived very different lifestyles. Compare and contrast their lifestyles.

3. What is the purpose of the author's inclusion of the scene where Gordianus and Tiro see a gladiator stabbed while they are walking to Cicero's house?

4. When Gordianus and Tiro see the tenement fire, what is the significance of that?

5. Why does Gordianus mention the fog at the end of Chapter 15?

6. Why does Gordianus loan Bethesda to the household of the stable master?

7. Do you think Elena really was pregnant? Or was she setting Roscius up to be attacked?

8. What elements of Cicero's home seem to contradict one another?

9. Electra tells Gordianus and Tiro that some men bought Elena. What else does she reveal?

10. In Chapter 5, Cicero says to Tiro, "A fit subject for debate: Is it possible that a slave can be too loyal to his master? That is to say, too enthusiastic in his devotion, too ready to spring to his master's defense." What is your answer to that question?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of corruption in Roman Blood. What is the overall conclusion to draw about corruption as a them in this novel?

Essay Topic 2

What are the advantages and disadvantages of having Gordianus as the narrator of this book?

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the novel, Cicero tells Gordianus, "Crime is common. Honor is rare." Discuss that comment.

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