Gladiator

15
Where do these people meet? Why?
a
Lucilla and Gaius (chapter 7) 
b
Commodus and Maximus (chapter 8)
c
Maximus and Lucilla (chapter 8)
d
Maximus and Cicero (chapter 9)
 
Chapters 10-12
Before you read
16 
Discuss how the story will end for:
a
Maximus
b
Commodus
c
Lucilla
d 
Rome
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After you read
17
Answer these questions.
a
What does Commodus tell Falco that he must do to get more
Information?
b
Why doesn’t Proximo meet Gracchus’s servant?
c
Why does Commodus tell Lucius the story of Emperor
Claudius?
18
Put these events in the right order. The royal guards are outside 
Proximo’s school.
a
The guards rush in through the gates.
b
Haken is killed.
c
The captain shouts, “Break the locks!”
d 
Proximo is killed.
e
Maximus hears the guards coming to the school.
f
Maximus gives the keys to Juba.
g
The guards run up to Proximo’s room.
h
Proximo gives the keys to Maximus.
19
Discuss how you felt at the end of the story. Was it the right 
ending? Why (not)?
 
Writing
20
Imagine you are Lucilla. After the last fight in the Colosseum you
must explain to Lucius why both men died. Write your conversation
with Lucius.
 
21
It is the day after the death of Maximus. Write a report for Rome’s
English-language newspaper about his death. Tell your readers
what happened in the Colosseum. 
22
It is the day after the spy has heard the senators talking in the café.
Now he must give the information to Senator Falco. Write his report. 
23
What does Maximus mean when he asks Proximo, “Are you in
danger of becoming a good man?”? What do we know about
Proximo? What is your opinion of him? 
24
It is a year after the end of the story. What do you think has
happened in that time? How has life changed for Lucilla, Gracchus, 
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and Quintus? Are the people of Rome happier or are they unhappy
with the republic?
25
Did you enjoy the book? Write a short report for someone who has
not read it. If you have also seen the movie, compare this to the
book. Why do you think the movie was so popular?
Answers for the Activities in this book are published in our free resource packs for teachers, the 
Penguin Readers Factsheets, or available on a separate sheet. Please write to your local Pearson 
Education office or to: Marketing Department, Penguin Longman Publishing, 80 Strand, 
London WC2R 0RL 

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