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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 does Crispin see in one of the houses in the village?

2. What does the man the boy does not know do when he sees the boy?

3. What is the name of the village where the boy lives?

4. What does the man tell Crispin is his name?

5. What does the boy tell Father Quinel about the accusations about him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Crispin see when he looks inside a church and what is Crispin asked?

2. What does Asta's son do the day after he slept in the village, and what does he hear two men say about him?

3. What does Bear tell Crispin he does in his travels?

4. What does Quinel give the boy, and what does he tell him about the boy's situation?

5. What do the two men say about the steward, and how does the boy think about what they say?

6. Who spots the boy in the forest and what do they do?

7. What do the man and Crispin do after Crispin has agreed to serve the man?

8. How is the boy in the first chapter known in his village, what happens to his mother and who helps him with her?

9. How does Bear provide dinner for him and Crispin and what does Bear say about the dinner and how he feels about it?

10. What does Crispin find as he is walking, and what does he realize about the place?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Who is/are the protagonists of the story and why?

2. Who is/are the antagonists of the story and why?

3. Which 3 secondary characters have the greatest impact on the plot?

4. Are any of the characters dispensable and which ones? Why or why not?

5. Do you think this is a character-driven plot or an action-driven plot? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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