Talisker Tutorial's Great Books II Assignment 6 Study Questions

Great Books II Study Questions for Assignment 6

Page numbers below are for the old Penguin Classics edition (coin on cover), page numbers for the new edition (battle scene on cover) are in parentheses.

Book 4

Reread the first full paragraph on page 34 (30) again before working on these questions.

1. Book 4 opens with two bills proposed by the tribunes, one of which causes a tremendous uproar immediately. What are these two bills, and which causes the immediate ruckus?

Law against intermarriage between the Senatorial class and plebeians (table XI, law 2) 2. What are the arguments put forth in the two opposing speeches about this bill, first by the senators, then by the tribune? What is the final outcome of this dispute?

3. pgs 279-282 (298-302) Reread the last four paragraphs of book 3 for background to these pages. How does the Senate manage to deal with the shameful treatment of Ardea which the commons had forced through?

4. pg 278 (297-298): What was the position of censor instituted for?

5. What was the situation which old Cincinnatus was again called in to deal with as Dictator? How had it arisen?

6. The need for Dictators arose frequently during this time. When each had done his job, he returned to Rome, generally to a triumph, and resigned. Examples pgs 301, 307, 333 (322, 329, 357). What kind of men are the Dictators? What do we know about the Romans that they pick this kind of man as Dictator? How are these Dictators different from the stereotype we think of when we hear the word "dictator" in modern contexts?

7. Pgs 296 (317) and 302 (323-324) What reaction do the Romans have when sickness or plague falls on their country?

8. What was the reaction of the men of Rome when the Senate decided to pay soldiers from public funds instead of requiring them to serve at their own private expense? What was the tribunes' argument against it? How did the Senate overcome that opposition? What is Livy's evaluation of this "favor"?

9. There is continual political hubbub in Rome, and throughout the book, Livy is careful not to side with either commons or patricians. However, do you think that one side is generally more at fault, more self-serving than the other? If so, who? Find specific episodes that support your view.

Book 5

10. & 11. Write two quesitons of your own from the material in Book 5 and answer them. These are to be shared during class and are required to be posted on the Class Forum after class. One must cover some topic in the first half of the Book and the other question must cover material from the last half of Book 5. Prizes will be awarded for the best one :~)