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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 one of the bull of Cooley's special powers?

2. Why did Cuchulain promise not to kill Larini?

3. Why was it unusual that Cuchulain killed Lochi?

4. How does Morrigan disguise herself when she sees Cuchulain coming?

5. Why does the fairy put magical herbs on Cuchulain while he sleeps?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens at the impassable river the Irish army come upon?

2. Why does Cethern's lack of patience and better judgment cause his death?

3. At first, Ferdiad did not want to fight his old friend Cuchulain. What changed his mind?

4. How does Medb anger Cuchulain by sending six druids to fight him?

5. What do we learn about Medb in "The Pillow Talk"?

6. What does Cuchulain do in "The Decision of the Battle" and how is he feeling?

7. What did Fergus and Cuchulain agree to do that they would never normally do. What was the result of this?

8. Why does Fergus decide to talk to Medb? What does he tell Medb about what Cuchulain wants to do?

9. How did Cuchulain manage to kill the gigantic Mann?

10. Why do the Irish scorn the Ulstermen in "The Misthrow at Belach Eoin"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pride as a personal characteristic is prevalent in The Cattle Raid of Cooley. Show how pride is shown as a characteristic of these warriors and provide two instances where pride influences their decisions or actions:

(a) Cuchulain

(b) Fergus

(c) Ferdiad

Essay Topic 2

(a) Explain what is meant by "mood" in a literary work.

(b) Give three examples of how mood might be portrayed to the reader.

(c) In Chapters 28 and 29 (The Slaying of Ferbaeth and The Combat of Larini MacNois) show how the mood of the novel changes due to the portrayal of Cuchulain and his actions and feelings.

Essay Topic 3

Point-of-view refers to the narrative voice of a literary work. What is the point-of-view in The Cattle Raid of Cooley?

(a) Give three examples that show biases the narrator has in telling the story. For example, does the narrator always support the protagonist?

(b) What is the "tone" of the narrative voice in The Cattle Raid of Cooley? Give three examples that show you support the narrative voice as being positive, negative, neutral, or all three at different times.

(see the answer keys)

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