Key people

Question 1

Cicero

Answer 1

Tried to uphold republican principles, revered as the greatest Roman orator. Held the Roman republic together by letter.

Question 2

Cato

Answer 2

Known for his moral integrity, he had a practical attitude and was pro-farming for its honesty and good values.

Question 3

Dionysius of Halicanarssus

Answer 3

Historian of Rome during the reign of Caesar Augustus. His work tries to justify the Romans to the Greeks - his work is believed to have been used as a demonstration of rhetoric principles. His ‘Roman antiquities’ was written from a pro-Roman standpoint.

Question 4

Hesiod

Answer 4

‘Works and days’ (8th century) written to his brother, it puts emphasis on working hard and honesty. He also talks about how to work practically.

Question 5

Pliny the Younger

Answer 5

Conventional in accepting the empire, serving both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ emperors.

Question 6

Menander

Answer 6

Supreme poet of Greek new comedy. ‘The bad tempered man’ despite fictitious may give an insight into social aspects of the 4th century.

Question 7

Plutarch

Answer 7

His works were of great significance, he was a mathematician, philosopher and writer. He had an interest in ethics.

Question 8

Aristophanes

Answer 8

Greatest representative of Greek comedy. ‘Frogs’ is about Dionysius who disguises himself as Heracles and goes to Hades in the underworld to save Euripides and bring him back to the world of the living.

Question 9

Polybius

Answer 9

Historian who wrote of Rome’s rise to world dominance.

Question 10

Suetonius

Answer 10

Roman biographer, whose writings include a collection of short biographies of celebrated Roman literary figures.