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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is on the ring Mat just bought?

2. Where are Mat and Beslan going?

3. Where does Rand send the Aes Sedai prisoners?

4. How many maidens have died protecting Rand?

5. How does Perrin feel about what the men want to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What difficulty does Mat find himself in when he returns to his room at the Inn?

2. Describe how Mat meets Beslan.

3. Who comes in after Omerna stabs Niall and what does the man do?

4. How does Myrelle act as she is riding with Egwene and Siuan and why is she acting this way?

5. What does Rand know about Mat, Elayne, and Nynaeve, and what worries Rand about them?

6. What does Rand ask of Perrin and what does Perrin say to Rand about the prisoner Aes Sedai?

7. What is Queen Morgase portrayed as doing in the Prologue?

8. What does Egwene do that night in her dream state?

9. What happens when Rand confronts Colavaere?

10. What does Perrin hear Rand doing after the battle and what is Perrin's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Compare/contrast Rand to Sammael. Who seems more powerful? What are the goals of each? Are both either all good or all evil? Who is more likable? How do both use their political power?

2. Compare/contrast Nynaeve to Elayne. How are their goals similar and/or different? What is the difference in the way they interact with people? Who is more idealistic? Harsh? Powerful? How do their magical talents compare?

3. Compare/contrast Siuan to Leane. How do they approach the healing of their stilling in different ways? Who is more likable? Who is the more sympathetic character? Or are either? Are they both good? Evil? Or a combination?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation that the Seanchan who leash and control the damane (women who can channel) can actually channel also. What other irony can you find in "A Crown of Swords"? Do you think irony enhances the book? Why?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from "A Crown of Swords". What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "A Crown of Swords" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why? Some possible devices: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 3

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or ideas that are not a part of the "real" world. In the case of "A Crown of Swords", much of the setting may seem familiar to the reader (i.e. there are woods, mountains, rivers, oceans, etc.), though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of "A Crown of Swords" that occur in the "real" world but are used differently in "A Crown of Swords".

2. Define the words as used in the world of "A Crown of Swords" and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of "A Crown of Swords". Did you have to look up any words? What does it mean to learn a word through its context? Do you have to do that in "A Crown of Swords"? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from "A Crown of Swords"? Which ones?

(see the answer keys)

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