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CONTENTS
Background ...............................................................................................................................
- Introduction..............................................................................................................................
- Notes on the Author and His Times
- Background ...............................................................................................................................
- Synopsis and Characters
- Teaching Guidelines ...............................................................................................................
- Horatius at the Bridge ............................................................................................................
- Study Guide ............................................................................................................................
- Rome at the Time of Horatius
- Maps
- Glossary of Ancient and Modern Place Names
- Comprehensive Exam
- Study Guide Key .....................................................................................................................
- Comprehensive Exam Key......................................................................................................
Synopsis
I. Verses 1‑ 12 Lars Porsena of Clusium summons a force from Etruria and
Umbria to attack Rome and restore Tarquin to the throne.
Men come from far and wide to join the army of Porsena.
II. Verses 13‑ 20 Romans in the countryside flee to Rome. The Senate meets.
III. Verses 21‑ 33 Porsena’s forces gather outside Rome. The hated Sextus is
seen. A consul calls for the destruction of the only bridge across
the Tiber into Rome. Horatius, captain of the bridge, volunteers
to defend the bridge if two others will join him. Two men
step forward. The Roman people unite in the defense of the city.
IV. Verses 34‑ 52 The Romans begin to weaken the bridge as the battle begins.
Horatius, Spurius Lartius, and Herminius stand in the bridge.
Three Etruscans attack them and are defeated. Three more
attack and are defeated. Finally the champion Astur comes
foward and is killed. The Etruscans begin to have doubts.
V. Verses 53‑ 70 As the bridge begins to fall, the Romans call their three
champions back. Two retreat, but Horatius stays. As the
bridge falls, he dives into the river and struggles back to the
Roman shore. His bravery is admired, even by his enemies.
The Romans declare him a hero and grant him honors and land.
Characters
Lars Porsena king of Clusium; commander of the Etruscan forces
Sextus son of Tarquin Superbus; raped Lucretia; hated by Romans
Horatius captain of the bridge; offers to defend the bridge
Spurius Lartius joins Horatius to defend the bridge
Herminius joins Horatius to defend the bridge
Aunus, Seius, Picus first three Etruscans to attack the bridge
Oenus, Lausulus, Aruns second trio to attack the bridge
Astur Etruscan champion; killed by Horatius
(1) READ
For each lesson, read aloud the two to three stanzas on each page. Ask students to silently study the explanatory notes and reread each page. Then begin the discussion of each stanza, focusing on comprehension. Ask students to summarize each stanza orally in a sentence or phrase.
(2) STUDY GUIDE Complete the comprehension questions in the Study Guide in the back of the book. In the Study Guide, stanza numbers are given in the inside columns. Find locations on maps.
(3) REREAD
Ask students to reread each page silently, and then ask for a volunteer to read a page aloud, with expression!
(4) MEMORIZE
All students should memorize some of Horatius at the Bridge. You may let students choose stanzas they like, or you may want to divide the number of stanzas by your students and have all stanzas memorized for a class presentation.
The following 24 stanzas tell the story in abbreviated form: 1, 11, 13, 19‑21, 27, 29‑31, 34‑36, 38, 53, 57 ‑60, 64‑66, 69, 70.
For a shorter selection of six stanzas, I recommend: 1, 27, 29‑31, 70.
(5) RECITATION If memorization is assigned, grade students on accuracy, expression, and pronunciation. Do not accept mediocre work. Four criteria for a recitation grade include:
- Accuracy and mastery. Require students to master each stanza, without hesitation, stumbling, changing words, etc. A student cannot work on improving the quality of his recitation until he first has complete mastery of the memory work. Once a student can recite a passage “without thinking” he can begin to concentrate on the three factors below.
- Pace and enunciation. Students tend to recite very quickly, their major goal being to just finish. In addition, students tend to rush even more at the end of a sentence or stanza, often trailing off inaudibly. It takes much practice and constant reminders to train students to slow down, enunciate each word, and emphasize dramatic parts.
- Expression. Students tend to recite in a monotone with no expression. Help students to think about what they are saying and recite with variety of tone and emphasis, expression, and emotion.
- Posture, hands, eye contact, facial expression. Help students to be aware of their posture, appearance, and body movements.
