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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. How does Queen Selenay end up in a bad marriage?

2. Where do the humans flee during the wars of long ago?

3. About what does Dirk tease Talia?

4. Why are the villages concerned that the Heralds will refuse their request?

5. What stops Talamir from carrying out his plan about Elspeth?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Talia feel as they approach the first village and why does she feel that way?

2. What news does Talia get that afternoon and who delivers the news?

3. What demonstrates the egalitarian nature of the Heralds?

4. How does Talia's gift cause a little tension between Talia and Kris?

5. What does the reader learn about Talia's life as a child and what Queen Selenay does after hearing the same information?

6. How does Talia adjudicate her first case?

7. What ceremony do the villagers want the Heralds to witness and how does it proceed?

8. What occurs at the tack shed after the investiture?

9. Why is Talia not prepared to perform as a Herald, but what in her background helps her deal with Elspeth?

10. Where do Kris and Dirk take Talia after she checks Rolan's equipment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whenever reading a fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains a different world. In the case of Arrow's Flight, much of the setting would be familiar to the reader, though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of Talia's world that occur in the "real" world but are used differently in Talia's world. Define the words as used in in Talia's world and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

2. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of Arrow's Flight. 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 Arrow's Flight? What word(s)?

3. Were there any words you never really understood in Arrow's Flight? Which ones?

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Arrow's Flight is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Arrow's Flight belongs to the literary genre of fantasy fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly define the term genre and offer examples of it from your own reading experience. Why do you think it is useful to categorize fiction into genres? What could be a disadvantage of doing so?

2. What do you think is the main motivation for a person to read a fantasy novel? Is entertainment a good enough reason? Are there any other reasons to read this genre? What? Explain fully.

3. In "academe," fantasy novels are often thought of as less literary than some other genres and for that reason are sometimes "snubbed" in the study of literature. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with this "snobbery"?

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