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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 important was social class in ancient Rome?

2. Who is Marcus Licinius Crassus?

3. Why is Gordianus called the Finder?

4. What does Gordianus learn from his first meeting with Sextus Roscius (filius)?

5. What is the House of Swans?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. Do you think Gauis's death was accidental or a murder? Why?

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

5. Why does Cicero send Tiro instead of a lesser slave to the home of Gordianus?

6. Why would the shopkeeper and his wife lie about witnessing the attack of Roscius?

7. Why does Bethesda bite Gordianus when he comes into her room?

8. How would you describe Caecilia Metella?

9. Explain why Caecilia would house Sextus Roscius (filius) in an unsavory part of her house, near the stinking indoor toilets.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sexuality in Roman society seems to have been very open, and openly discussed and viewed. Discuss some of the episodes in which sexuality is important or comes into play, especially where it actively impacts the plot.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Rufus and Tiro are both very young men, Rufus not even fully a man yet. What would you say these two young men represent?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 606 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample