Agricola 2

Study Guide Questions for Ch. 10-21

If you are looking for the beginning of the study of Tacitus’ Agricola then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of available book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Recklessness, Cowardice, Temperance, Justice, Discipline, Forgiveness, Education, Wilderness vs. Civilization, Ignorance

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What did Tacitus seek to describe at the beginning of this reading?

2. What did Tacitus say about the origin of the first inhabitants of Britannia?

3. What did Tacitus not about the Britanni’s military strength?

4. What material value did Britannia hold for the Romans as “a reward for victory?”

5. What can Divus Julius be said to have done concerning Britannia?

6. What “long established Roman custom” did the Romans employ in Britannia?

7. According to Tacitus, what did the Britanni “make no distinction of” when it came to choosing their leaders?

8. What difficulties did Trebellius Maximus face while governor of Britannia?

9. What made Julius Frontinus equal as a successor to Petilius Cerialis?

10. What unlikely things did Agricola do which helped to establish a powerful reputation of fear among the Britanni right at the outset of his time leading the Roman military in Britannia?

11. What did Tacitus say about how Agricola would deal with minor and major offences?

12. What did Agricola do in order to encourage “peace and ease” in Britannia after he had imposed enough fear?

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Tacitus wrote of the Britanni that “there is boldness in courting danger and, when it has come, the same cowardice in avoiding it.” Which virtue do these two corresponding vices fail to obtain?

2. Tacitus wrote, “Indeed, nothing has helped us more in war with their strongest nations than their inability to cooperate.” What did he mean by this and what principle(s) about national strength should be inferred from it?

3. Where do we see examples of Tacitus engaging in scientific hypotheses in our present reading? Why do you think he does this? What does it say about him that he does this?

4. In the speech given in Ch. 15, what did the speaker mean when he said, “It is more dangerous to be planning than to take the plunge?”

5. What did Tacitus mean by saying, “The barbarians now learned like us to condone seductive vices?”

6. Why would Agricola’s “refusal to acknowledge his fame” end up increasing his fame?

7. What did Tacitus mean when he wrote, “arms effect little if injustice follows behind?”

8. What did Tacitus mean when he said of the Britanni, “In their innocence they called this ‘civilization’, when in fact it was a part of their enslavement?”

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. In the persuasive speech delivered by the Britanni leader in Ch. 15, which mode of persuasion is dominant, Logos (reason), Pathos (emotion), or Ethos (character of the speaker)? Give at least two examples from the speech which support your claim.

2. What are at least two principles of effective leadership which can be learned from Agricola in this reading? Why do you think these are effective?

3. Consider the close of our reading (Ch. 21). What elements are necessary for a people to be truly civilized? Why do you think these are necessary? Is civilization always to be preferred over wilderness or nomadic life? Why or why not?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1.  Read John 11:45-53. In what way had the Jewish leaders been lulled into slavery by the Romans just like the Britanni?