LESSON 8.1
gladius
A sword goes missing from the workshop
Learning Objectives
- Read and understand the story of the missing sword
- Practice recognizing present, imperfect, and perfect tenses
- Learn vocabulary related to crafts, family, and conflict
- Understand Catia's backstory in Britain
The Story So Far...
Ch. 1-2
In Rome: We meet Sabina and her family in the Subura. Gisco, Catia, and their son arrive from Britain, looking for lodging.
Ch. 3
The Races: At the Circus Maximus, Faustus loses money betting. Financial troubles begin.
Ch. 4-5
Religious Tensions: Christians face persecution. Manius dies of fever. Slaves attempt escape through the sewers.
Ch. 6
Crisis: The senator threatens to take Sabina as a slave. Lucilius leaves for Lusitania. Danger looms.
Ch. 7
Tales of Britain: Gisco meets his old friend Indus. They begin sharing stories about their time in Britain...
Now Catia tells her own story from Britain, about a missing sword that will have serious consequences...
The Story: gladius
Comprehension Questions - Part 1
- What was Catia doing with her father? What was he making?
- What news did Catia's mother bring?
- What tense is labōrābam? How can you tell?
- Find two verbs in the perfect tense. What do they mean?
- Where did Catia find Aucissa? What was Aucissa doing?
- What tense is lacrimābat?
Comprehension Questions - Part 2
- What two questions did Catia ask her sister?
- Who did Catia notice? What were they doing?
- What is the name of Aucissa's friend? What was he holding?
- What tense is fēcērunt? What does it mean?
- What did Catia understand at the end of this section?
- Find a verb in the present tense in lines 11-12.
Comprehension Questions - Part 3
- What command did Catia give to Luccus?
- What tense is pugnāvī? What about temptāvī?
- Where did Luccus throw the sword?
- What did his two friends do with the sword?
- Find the Latin word that means "without" in line 20.
- Where did Catia take Luccus at the end?
- What tense is dūxī? What does it mean?
Key Vocabulary
gladius, -ī (m)
sword
absum, abesse
to be absent, missing
currō, currere, cucurrī
to run
quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī
to look for, seek
inveniō, invenīre, invēnī
to find
cōnspiciō, cōnspicere, cōnspexī
to notice, catch sight of
capiō, capere, cēpī
to take, seize
intellegō, intellegere, intellēxī
to understand
iaciō, iacere, iēcī
to throw
dūcō, dūcere, dūxī
to lead
sine (+ abl.)
without
tandem
finally, at last