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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 is Eco?

2. Who are Felix and Chrestus?

3. When Cicero asks Gordianus the question in his library, what does Gordianus think of him then?

4. Who is Cicero's client?

5. Who is Marcus Tullius Cicero?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who do you think is smarter: Gordianus or Cicero? Why?

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

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. Describe your first impression of Gordianus.

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

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

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

8. If traveling to Ameria alone is so dangerous, why doesn't Gordianus take a companion or a guard?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

The first section of Roman Blood is called "High and Low." Discuss the significance of this phrase. In what ways does it apply to Roman society? And also to the murder mystery at hand? How does the author use the juxtaposition of the difference connotations of this phrase to add multiple layers to the book?

Essay Topic 3

Caecilia is a powerful and wealthy woman. How does she use that power throughout the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 580 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample