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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 Mat tell Elayne they are going to do after finding the Bowl of the Winds?

2. What does a Darkfriend throw at Rand?

3. What does Nynaeve refuse to do initially concerning Mat?

4. Why does Elayne become angry?

5. What do the Aes Sedai at the palace tell Elayne regarding the circle?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Perrin decide to do after his argument with Rand?

2. What does Elayne tell the women in the Circle that causes much emotion?

3. What does Beslan say to Mat about Beslan's mother, Tylin, and how does Mat feel about what Beslan says?

4. What does Elayne learn about the Tower's attitude towards the Circle?

5. About what does Rand worry and how does Min set his mind at ease?

6. What does Birgitte say to Mat when he asks how she got there?

7. What happens while Morgase is in her tent in Chapter 26 and where does she go?

8. Describe Nynaeve and Lan's first interaction since he arrived in Ebou Dou.

9. Describe Nynaeve and Elayne's encounter with Reanne.

10. How do the women in the Circle respond to Elayne's arrival with some other Aes Sedai?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Traveling in the Wheel of Time series evolves, a phenomenon that also helps the book's pacing. First, Rand and the others travel by foot and horse; then the "Ways" are introduced, which significantly cuts down on the time it takes to get from one point to another. In "A Crown of Swords", Rand uses a portal stone for travel across vast distances; however, one must first walk to a portal stone, so the travel cannot be said to be instantaneous. Finally, in a later book, a technique called "Traveling" is introduced where a doorway is magically "sliced" into the air and one can instantly be where s/he wants to go. Discuss the following:

1. What is the advantage of having the characters travel by horse and foot across long distances requiring significant amounts of time? What are the disadvantages?

2. How is the plot affected when the ability to travel from point A to point B is drastically reduced? Give examples from the book.

3. How would one or two scenes in "A Crown of Swords" be affected if Rand or any other channeling individual could not instantly move from one place to another?

Essay Topic 2

"A Crown of Swords" 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 suitable 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?

Essay Topic 3

Wise Ones of the Aiel are similar to Aes Sedai in that they are able to wield the One Power. Discuss one of the following:

1. Compare/contrast Wise Ones to Aes Sedai.

2. Would you rather join the ranks of the Wise Ones or Aes Sedai if you knew you could channel? Explain fully.

3. Not all Wise Ones are bad, nor are all Aes Sedai good. What are the increased dangers of those who can channel being Darkfriends versus just normal human beings? Why do you think there are more black Ajah than Wise Ones who have gone over to the Dark Lord?

(see the answer keys)

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