Tacitus: Inspiration for the fight - NOTES

Question 1

“Boudicca”

Sentence 1 (Part 1/7)

Answer 1

• Queen of the Iceni
• Wife of King Prasutagus
• After her husband’s death, she was flogged and her daughters were raped by the Romans

Question 2

“curru filias prae se vehens, ut quamque nationem accesserat”

Sentence 1 (Part 1/7 to Part 2/7)

Answer 2

Boudicca’s daughters presented as part of the reason for fighting against the Romans - but also highlights her prowess both as a leader and as a woman.

Question 3

“testabatur”

Sentence 1 (Part 3/7)

Answer 3

The opening verb reveals her position through indirect speech

Question 4

“sed tunc non ut”

Sentence 1 (Part 4/7)

Answer 4

Boudicca emphasising her authority as one that is not simply based on her role as a Queen nor because of her wealth

Question 5

“libertatem amissam, confectum verberibus corpus, contrectatem filiarum pudicitiam”

Sentence 1 (Part 5/7 to Part 7/7)

Answer 5

A tricolon of tragic things that Boudicca has experienced

Question 6

“adesse tamen deos iustae vindictae”

Sentence 3 (Part 1/3)

Answer 6

All aspects of society have suffered under the Romans so the Gods are presented as being on Boudicca’s side

Question 7

“cecidisse … circumspicere”

Sentence 3 (Part 2/3 to Part 3/3)

Answer 7

These words highlight the weakness of the Romans’ position - further justification for action and war against them

Question 8

“vincendum illa acie vel cadendum esse”

Sentence 4 (Part 3/3)

Answer 8

This is Boudicca’s ultimatum

Question 9

“id mulieri destinatum: viverent viri et servirent”

Sentence 5 (Part 1/1)

Answer 9

An emphatic assertion about women’s resolve

Question 10

“Gaius Suetonius Paulinus”

Answer 10

Suetonius was the governer of Britain from A.D. 59

Question 11

“exhortationes et preces miscebat, ut spernerent sonores barbarorum et inanes minas”

Sentence 7 (Part 2/4 to Part 3/4)

Answer 11

Correct, formal terms used to describe Suetonius’ speech appear in contrast to the description of the barbarians’ noises

Question 12

“plus illic feminarum quam iuventutis aspici”

Sentence 7 (Part 4/4)

Answer 12

Further indirect speech, similar in content to Boudicca’s earlier speech.

Question 13

“imbelles inermes”

Sentence 8 (Part 1/2)

Answer 13

Belittling the Barbarians’ readiness for war

Question 14

“ferrum virtutemque”

Sentence 8 (Part 2/2)

Answer 14

A phrase used to illustrate Roman superiority

Question 15

“praedae immemores: parta victoria cuncta ipsis cessura.”

Sentence 10 (Part 3/4 to Part 4/4)

Answer 15

This sentence shows the means by which victory will be secured

Question 16

quippe sunt qui paulo minus quam octoginta milia Britannorum cecidisse tradant, militum quadringentis ferme interfectis nec multo amplius vulneratis.

Sentence 16 (Part 2/3 to Part 3/3)

Answer 16

Numbers are used here for emphasis and to prove a point

Question 17

“Boudicca vitam veneno finivit.”

Sentence 17 (Part 1/1)

Answer 17

An emphatic sentence acheived through its brevity