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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. To whom is Moghedien sent?

2. Who is Setalle Anan?

3. Who realizes Rand's identity?

4. What are Elayne and Nynaeve doing?

5. What calls back heroes from the past?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who attacks Mat in Chapter 21, and why does he think they expected something?

2. What happens just as the practice sword fight starts?

3. What happens at Sevanna's camp when she calls upon "Caddar"?

4. Describe Moghedien's visit to the Pit of Doom.

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

6. How does Elayne get drunk?

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

8. Where does Anan take Elayne and Nynaeve and what does Anan do on the way?

9. What do Elayne and Nynaeve convince Mat to do and what happens when he agrees?

10. What transpires between Rand and Perrin concerning the captured 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

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or ideas that are not a part of the "real" world. In the case of "A Crown of Swords", much of the setting may seem familiar to the reader (i.e. there are woods, mountains, rivers, oceans, etc.), though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of "A Crown of Swords" that occur in the "real" world but are used differently in "A Crown of Swords".

2. Define the words as used in the world of "A Crown of Swords" and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of "A Crown of Swords". 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 "A Crown of Swords"? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from "A Crown of Swords"? Which ones?

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