The Eagle of the Ninth 20
Study Guide Questions for Ch. 20 “Valedictory”
If you are looking for the beginning of the study for The Eagle of the Ninth 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 book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Home, Joy, Loyalty, Wilderness vs. Civilization, Freedom vs. Bondage, Fortitude, Fantasy, Community
Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)
What had Marcus and Esca needed “more than once” as they journeyed southward toward Calleva?
Who was the first person in uncle Aquila’s household to see Marcus’ return?
Who else had just recently arrived at uncle Aquila’s house shortly before Marcus and Esca returned?
What did Marcus notice about Cub’s condition upon his return?
What news did Marcus receive about Cottia?
Where did the men retreat to in order to discuss what had taken place north of Hadrian’s wall?
What disappointing news did Marcus receive after giving his account of how he and Esca had retrieved the Eagle of the Ninth Legion?
Who all knew that Eagle had been regained?
What was determined should be done with the Eagle and where did it end up?
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
Legate Claudius Hieronimianus told Esca, “I generally remember men by other things than the papers I may have witnessed for them”. What does this comment communicate about the kind of man the Legate is?
Why was it necessary to discuss the Eagle so secretly and away from other ears?
Why was Cub not eating? What was making him do that?
Why did Marcus have to convince Esca to come up to his uncle’s tower room? Why did he not feel like he belonged?
How do we see a great example of the vice of Fantasy (false hope/wishful thinking) in this chapter?
Why couldn’t the Ninth Legion ever be reformed?
Why did they put the eagle to rest? Why did they pick the place they did to do so?
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
The Legate is of the opinion that the brave deeds of a few men cannot counterbalance the evil and faithless deeds of the majority. Do you agree with him? Do you think the courage of Marcus’ father and his men was sufficient or insufficient to justify reforming the Ninth Legion? Why or why not?
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
Read Psalm 33. How does this Psalm help us to distinguish between the vice of Fantasy (false hope/wishful thinking) and the genuine virtue of Hope? What makes the difference?