Against the Luxury of the Romans

Essay Questions

1. *How does Horace use contrasting symbols such as the olive plantation and the plane tree, or the turf hut and the grand private estate to construct his argument against Roman luxury in Against the Luxury of the Romans?*

(AQA AO2; AP Lit Q1 poetry analysis: figurative language and structure; IB guiding concept: representation)

1. *To what extent is the tone of Against the Luxury of the Romans best described as indignant rather than grief-stricken? In your response, consider how Horace balances moral outrage with an evident love for Rome and its founding ideals.*

(AQA AO1/AO2; AP Lit Q1: authorial voice and tone; IB guiding concept: perspective)

1. *How does Horace use historical and legendary figures — specifically Romulus and Cato — as moral touchstones in Against the Luxury of the Romans, and how effective is this appeal to the Roman past as a rhetorical strategy?*

(AQA AO1/AO3; AP Lit Q1: context and argumentation; IB guiding concept: identity and community)

1. *"The wealth of Rome has been redirected inward — from the public to the private." How far does Against the Luxury of the Romans support this reading? In your answer, explore how the poem presents the tension between individual luxury and civic obligation.*

(AQA AO1/AO2; AP Lit Q1: thematic development; IB guiding concept: culture, identity and community)

1. *To what extent does the symbol of the Lucrine lake function as more than a geographical reference in Against the Luxury of the Romans? Explore how Horace uses natural landmarks and the transformation of the landscape to measure moral decline.*

(AQA AO2; AP Lit Q1: imagery and symbolism; IB guiding concept: representation and nature)

1. *How does Horace present the relationship between social class, sacrifice, and honour in Against the Luxury of the Romans? Consider how the poem implies that the obligations of the wealthy have shifted from communal service to personal display.*

(AQA AO1/AO3; AP Lit Q1: thematic and contextual analysis; IB guiding concept: power and privilege)

1. *Compare the way two poets from your wider reading use a specific historical or political moment to criticise the moral values of their society. You should refer to Against the Luxury of the Romans as one of your texts, exploring how each poet's structural and stylistic choices shape their critique.*

(AQA AO1/AO2/AO3 comparative; AP Lit Q2 poetry comparison; IB guiding concept: intertextuality and context)

1. *How does Horace's engagement with the Augustan programme of moral and civic restoration shape the arguments made in Against the Luxury of the Romans? To what extent is the poem a product of its historical moment, and to what extent does its critique transcend that context?*

(AQA AO3; AP Lit Q1: historical and biographical context; IB guiding concept: time, space and context)