Study Guide for : I, Claudius by Robert Graves & Comprehension Test

I, Claudius by Robert Graves
About_
This study guide accompanies Robert Graves’ historical novel narrated by the emperor Claudius, who recounts his
family’s rise and fall through the intrigues of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. It guides students through each section
with questions that build understanding of characters, events, and themes. Additional activities, including a
true/false set, an article, and a character study, extend learning beyond the text. This study guide contains 91
questions across 7 chapter sections (70 Factual + 21 Critical), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus
Activity.
What’s Included_
This study guide features 7 sets of 10 Factual Questions with an answer key (70 total), 7 sets of 3 Critical Analysis
Questions (21 total), 1 Crossword Puzzle (12 clues), and 1 Character Focus Activity (8 traits + evidence prompt +
critical thinking question).
Target Grades_
Grades 10-12
Teacher Note_
This guide helps students build close-reading skills while exploring complex questions of power, loyalty, and
survival. The mix of factual and analytical questions encourages deeper thinking, and the ready-made activities
save valuable preparation time. We hope it makes teaching this rich novel a rewarding experience for you and your
students.
Rome in Transition
The novel is set in the early Roman Empire, a time when Rome was shifting from a republic governed by elected officials to an
empire ruled by one powerful family. Many Romans still believed in republican ideals even as emperors gained more control.
Understanding this tension helps explain many of the conflicts between characters.
The Julio-Claudian Family
The story follows the Julio-Claudian dynasty, the first family to rule Rome as emperors. Members of this family were bound
together by marriage, adoption, and rivalry, and political power often depended on who was related to whom. Family trees
and alliances are very important to following the story.
A Historian’s Voice
The narrator presents the story as a memoir written by a historian who wants to record the truth. Robert Graves, the author,
mixes real historical events and figures with fictional details. Readers should consider how a narrator’s point of view and
personal experiences might shape the story he chooses to tell.