The Eagle of the Ninth

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?

The primary concern surrounding the possibility that the eagle is in the possession of the northern tribes is the notion that its power and influence as a symbol and talisman could inspire and incite resistance among the tribes against Rome. How does the eagle hold power for Rome, and how does it hold power for the Seal People? What are some of the ways in which it is treated and perceived differently in the hands of the Seal People as opposed to its status in the Roman world?

The Druids skirt the shadows of the narrative until they factor heavily in the Feather ceremony. In what ways does the book demonstrate how their mysticism holds power? How is their influence manifested, and how does their impact differ at Isca Dumnoniorum versus at the Feast of New Spears?

Consider how the Hadrian’s Wall plays a significant role in the novel as both a landmark and a boundary, particularly with respect to how it functions for Marcus and Esca. How is Marcus’s understanding of the Roman Empire as he knows it informed by this foray into territory in which he is vulnerable? How does his appreciation for and understanding of Esca grow as they enter an environment wherein Marcus is the outnumbered and Esca is instead among what is familiar to him?

Explore the ways in which Marcus’s experiences throughout the novel enhance his ability to empathize with his father. Which aspects of his wounding at Isca Dumnoniorum and his journey northward to capture the eagle shape the eventual peace he makes with his father’s legacy?

Discuss how the similarities between Marcus and Esca serve to solidify their friendship and act as a bridge between their disparate backgrounds.

When he is first becoming acquainted with his Uncle Aquila, Marcus is puzzled by the notion that Aquila, born a Roman, would make his home in Britain. At the novel’s end, Marcus has made the same choice for himself. Explore Marcus’s journey to embracing Britain as his home and the experiences and relationships that anchor him to the island.