I think that society would have less ridiculous beauty standards. And I think people would become more humble towards each other; if we see ourselves less, we think less about our looks. We look to the less superficial aspects of life. Hope this helps, I'd write more, but I wouldn't want to rant ;)
I think the author chose to start the book 19 years before the main events of the story so the reader could absorb things. The author technically wanted the reader(s) to understand something before reading the real story.
3)to persuade
4)to instruct
Because she dosen't agree with the playground rules and maybe there might be someone who agrees with her and the rule might be taken down.
The two senteces that most clearly describe historical elements are:
"Then, amid a murmur of laughter and jeers from the Roman benches immediately before him, he began to sing."
"It was all simple and childlike, but it went to the hearts of the Olympians, for it spoke of the land which they knew and loved."
