STAGE The Eagle of the Ninth 4 Rosemary Sutcliff Introduction This ungraded summary is for the teacher’s use only and should not be given to students. The story The story is set nearly two thousand years ago in Roman Britain. Some years before the beginning of the story, Marcus’s father, a commander of the Roman Ninth Legion, disappeared with all his men into the mists of Caledonia (Scotland). No-one returned, and the Legion’s Eagle, the symbol of pride of any legion, get nearer to the Wall, their pursuers are close behind also disappeared. Now Marcus himself, at the age of them. They meet Guern again and he helps them to nineteen, arrives in Britain as a Legion Commander. escape to the Wall. After only a short time in Britain, Marcus is Back in Roman Britain, the Eagle is buried with wounded in the leg in battle, and has to leave the honour. Marcus returns to his uncle’s home where he army. He remains in Britain, staying with his uncle, and meets Cottia, who has grown into a young woman. makes friends with his slave, Esca (whose life he has Because he has found the Eagle, Marcus is given land saved), and also with Cottia, the British girl who lives and money, so that they can remain in Britain and farm. in the house next door. For his part in the story, Esca is made a Roman Citizen It takes several months for Marcus’s leg to heal. – but continues to live with Marcus and Cottia. When his leg is better, he decides that he must go to Caledonia to try and retrieve the Eagle – the only Background to the story way the good name of both the Ninth Legion and his Most of Britain was part of the Roman Empire for father can be recovered. He gives Esca his freedom, several hundred years, but Scotland was never fully and invites him to come with him as a friend, not occupied. The Romans built a wall – Hadrian’s Wall – to as a slave. Esca agrees, and they set off, travelling separate their Empire from Caledonia, but they also disguised as an eye-doctor and his assistant. attempted to extend their Empire northwards. And They cross Hadrian’s Wall, which separates Roman- it was in an attempt to maintain a Roman presence occupied Britain from Caledonia, and soon meet north of the Wall that the Ninth Legion disappeared in Guern. He was once a soldier in the Ninth Legion, this story. and is able to tell Marcus how the Ninth Legion Roman Britain, south of the Wall, was very much met its end, surrounded by Caledonian tribesmen. a mixture of the British and Roman cultures, with Guern himself was wounded but was saved by some the latter dominant. Many British people, like Cottia’s villagers. He stayed in Caledonia and married a woman uncle and aunt, adopted Roman ways, and tried to live from the village. He is unable to tell Marcus how his as Romans. father died, but assumes it was in the last battle with the tribesmen. As for the Eagle, he knows only that it was carried northwards by men from the tribe of the Epidaii, who live in the mountains on the west coast. For a month Marcus and Esca travel among the Epidaii. Eventually they arrive in a village where they stay for some time while Marcus treats the eyes of a child. They discover that the eagle is being held there in a secret place – as it was captured in battle it has great signifi cance for the tribe. They manage to steal the Eagle and head south towards Hadrian’s Wall, pursued by the Epidaii. As they 47 © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS OBW4 Activity Worksheets MB.indd 47 20/2/08 12:53:44 STAGE The Eagle of the Ninth 4 Pre-reading activity The Romans What do you know about the Romans? YES NO COMMENTS 1 The Romans originally came from Italy. 2 The Romans lived more than three thousand years ago. 3 The Romans had slaves. 4 The Romans were the rulers of all of Africa. 5 The Romans were the rulers of all of Great Britain. 6 The Romans had an excellent army. 7 The Roman Empire lasted for hundreds of years. 8 The Romans spoke English. 9 The Romans killed everyone when they took over a country. 10 Many Romans liked to watch people fi ghting animals. 11 The Romans built a wall across the north of England. 12 The Romans went to America. 13 In many countries you can still see Roman buildings. 14 The Romans didn’t know how to write. To the teacher Aim: To start students thinking about the context of Key: 1: yes, 2: no (around two thousand years ago), the story 3: yes, 4: no (only North Africa), 5: no (they never Time: 10–15 minutes conquered Scotland), 6: yes, 7: yes, 8: no (they spoke Organization: Give one copy of the worksheet to Latin), 9: no (but sometimes they made them slaves), each student or group of students. Ask the students 10: yes, 11: yes, 12: no, 13: yes, 14: no (they left a to think about the statements and decide which ones large number of written documents). they think are true. Ask them to write comments to justify their decisions. PHOTOCOPIABLE © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 48 OBW4 Activity Worksheets MB.indd 48 20/2/08 12:53:44 STAGE The Eagle of the Ninth 4 While reading activity What happens next? What do you think will happen to these characters in the story? ESCA YES NO 1 will go to Caledonia with MARCUS YES NO Marcus. 1 will never walk again. 2 will fi ght with Marcus. 2 will fi nd his father. 3 will become a free man. 4 3 will follow the Ninth will go back to live with Legion into Caledonia. his tribe. 5 will fi ght the Romans 4 will return to Rome. again. 5 will fall in love with 6 will go to Rome. Cottia. 7 will become a very 6 will become a soldier important man. again. 8 will be killed. 7 will disappear like the Ninth Legion. 8 will become a very COTTIA YES NO important man. 1 will fall in love with Marcus. 9 will never fi nd out what happened to his father. 2 will go with Marcus to fi nd the Ninth Legion. 10 will be killed. 3 will refuse to marry Marcus because he is a Roman. 4 will fall in love with Esca. 5 will go to Rome. 6 will be killed. 7 will become a very important woman. To the teacher Where: At the end of Chapter 3 (page 26) Organization: Give one copy of the worksheet to Aim: To encourage prediction each student or group of students. Ask the students Time: 10–15 minutes to decide what they think will happen to each character. 49 © OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS PHOTOCOPIABLE OBW4 Activity Worksheets MB.indd 49 20/2/08 12:53:44 STAGE The Eagle of the Ninth 4 After reading activity Letters home At the end of the story four of the characters might write letters to old friends explaining what has happened to them. Here are some numbered pieces of the letters. Put the numbers in the correct boxes. The fi rst one has been done for you. Dear Grania, My dear cousin, A 23 B C D E A B C D E F Dear Tertius, Dear Antonius, A B C D E F A B C D E F 1 Almost every man was killed by the 13 I sometimes think about Rome, but the Caledonians, but you have taken the Eagle memories are a long way away now. from them and buried it with honour. 14 I’m afraid I shall not be returning to Rome 2 Best wishes, Cottia this year – or for many years to come. 3 Best wishes, Esca 15 I’m happily married to a woman from this 4 Best wishes, Guern country and we have two children. 5 Best wishes, Marcus 16 I’ve almost forgotten how to write! I’ve come a long way from Rome. 6 He set me free, and then I helped him fi nd the Eagle of his father’s legion – it had 17 I’ve married a British girl and we’ve been disappeared in Caledonia. given some land to farm near Calleva. 7 I am writing to tell you some strange news. I 18 It happened because I was lucky in my have become a Roman! master – now my friend – Marcus. 8 I did fi nally discover what happened to my 19 My husband Marcus is a wonderful man, father’s legion – the Ninth. and I’m sure you would like him. 9 I expect this is a surprise. It must be more 20 We now own a farm near Calleva. Marcus than ten years since I wrote to you. talks about visiting Rome, but I think he’s too happy here to leave. 10 I had to leave the legion because I hurt my leg in a fi ght–but I can still walk. 21 When I think that only two years ago I was a slave of the Romans! 11 I know I hated the Romans before, but I hated what they did to my father, not the 22 When we brought it back, the Roman Legate people themselves. made me a Roman. 12 I now live in Caledonia.