Because the novel is written from the third-person-limited perspective, only Marcus’s thoughts and perspectives on the events that transpire throughout the novel are explicitly stated. Given Esca’s actions and dialogue, how might his own thoughts and feelings have evolved throughout the novel?

Uncle Aquila, Gruen the Hunter, Cottia, and her aunt Valeria are all individuals whose identities have been shaped by their roles in the collision between Rome and Britain. Eventually, Marcus and Esca are similarly influenced. What similarities are there in the aspects they each embrace and those they reject, and in which ways are they distinctive to each person?

Guern the Hunter and Tradui each give an account of the destruction of the Ninth Legion and the capture of the eagle. As a result, Marcus is able to appreciate the events as they were perceived by each side of the altercation. How do these perspectives shape Marcus’s intellectual and emotional understanding of his father’s legacy? How does having a better sense of the truth instead of relying upon conjecture change or confirm his beliefs?