Character
Who is the Roman general leading the Army of the North who wants to return home?
Maximus
Where does Maximus imagine going after the last battle?
To his home in Spain
Define "emperor" as used in the text.
The ruler of Rome.
What is the field described as (adj)?.
The field is described as "sun-warmed"
Name the Emperor who is old and dying at the start of the story.
Marcus Aurelius
What do the Germans throw at the Roman army as a message before the battle begins?
They throw the messengers severed head toward the Roman army.
What is a "messenger" and what happens to the messenger early in the battle?
A rider who carries news; in the story the messenger arrives tied to his horse with his head cut off.
Find a phrase that uses metaphor or figurative language to show Maximus’s feelings about home (e.g., how the earth is described). What is the figurative meaning?
“The earth is black, Marcus. As black as my wife’s hair.” (simile comparing earth to hair to emphasize richness).
Who is Marcus Aurelius’s son who hopes to become Emperor?
Commodus
What happens to Maximus’s horse during the battle described in chapter 1?
Maximus’s horse is killed (sword in its neck) and he falls to the ground.
What does the word "general" mean in the story?
A leader in the army in charge of many soldiers.
The text says Maximus “let [the earth] fall through his fingers.” Is this literal or a figurative action? Explain why (personification or symbolic action).
Letting earth fall through fingers symbolizes readiness and respect for the land.
Which officer is Maximus’s second-in-command and appears in the battle scenes?
Quintus
After the battle ends, what does Maximus ask Marcus Aurelius to allow him to do?
He asks to be allowed to go home.
Explain the meaning of "shield" and how Roman soldiers use it.
A protective equipment carried by soldiers to block arrows and spears.
Explain how the description of the sky during battle uses imagery that could be like a metaphor (what is compared to what?).
Imagery: “the sky was full of flaming arrows” compares the arrows to fire across the sky (creates a dramatic, metaphor-like image).
Which female character is Marcus’s daughter who later speaks with Maximus?
Lucilla
What sign does Maximus perform with earth before giving the order to his men?
He takes earth in his hand and lets it fall through his fingers as a sign he is ready.
What does "Commander of the Army of the North" tell us about Maximus’s role and responsibility?
It tells us that Maximus has the highest military authority in that region; he leads men into battle.
Maximus holding the Roman flag. What does the flag symbolize?
Roman flag symbolizes Rome, military loyalty, and Maximus’s role. Holding it high means leadership, victory, and duty.