1. Show how the events of William's first twenty-one years prepare him for his greatest exploit, the conquest of England.

2. Compare and contrast William with other rulers who appear in the biography.

3. Read one of Costain's other historical books, such as The Black Rose or The Silver Chalice, and compare his integration of historical fact and fictional speculation in that book to his technique in William the Conqueror.

4. Rewrite one of the scenes in William the Conqueror from the point of view of one of the nobles who served William.

5. Research and report on the Battle of Hastings and its impact on the course of British history.