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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. According to the voice, what was the man sent by St. Winifred supposed to enforce?

2. How does Brother Columbanus injure Sioned when he tries to kill her?

3. What do Sioned and Brother Cadfael think Brother Columbanus might be trying to do after claiming to reveal the solution to Rhisiart's murder?

4. What is strange about the contents of the bottle of poppy seed syrup with which Brother Cadfael wants to treat Dame Branwen?

5. How does Sioned plan to make her marriage to Engelard a reality?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Brother Cadfael do to manage Prior Robert when Bened tells of the miracles occurring at St. Winifred's former grave?

2. What news does Bened relay to Brother Cadfael during Bened's pilgrimage to Walsingham?

3. Why should anyone who knows about Brother Cadfael's plan to handle St. Winifred's remains and Brother Columbanus' body not speak of it until the brothers have left Gwytherin?

4. How does Dame Branwen's behavior help build suspicion against Brother Columbanus?

5. How do Father Huw, Brother Richard, Brother Jerome, and Brother Columbanus fare with Brother Cadfael's plan to trap Rhisiart's murderer?

6. How does Brother Cadfael capitalize on the people's faith and belief in miracles when he conceals Brother Columbanus' death?

7. How do Brother Cadfael and Sioned test Brother Columbanus to determine if he killed Rhisiart?

8. What is Brother Cadfael's plan to trap Rhisiart's murderer while the vigil is held at St. Winifred's grave?

9. What are the results when Sioned strays from the plan to test Brother Columbanus to see if he killed Rhisiart?

10. What is the dilemma faced by Brother Cadfael regarding Brother Columbanus being found guilty or not guilty of murdering Rhisiart?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several components of quality literature include:

1) a use of descriptive word

2) a use of analogies, metaphors, and similes

3) an attention-grabbing beginning

4) details

5) an appeal to the five senses.

Is A Morbid Taste for Bones: A Mediaeval Whodunnit an example of quality literature? Why or why not? Give examples from the story using three of the five components of quality literature to explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

A stereotype is a broad generalization about a certain group of people or a type of person that implies the members of this group have no individual qualities. In the time A Morbid Taste for Bones: A Mediaeval Whodunnit was set, society had certain expectations for females, a cultural female stereotype. What was the cultural female stereotype during the time the story was set? Which characters represent the stereotypical female of the time? How? Which characters defy the female stereotype of the time? How? Which male characters support the female stereotype? How do you know? Which male characters support the individuality of the female? How do you know?

Essay Topic 3

Choose a situation in the story in which Brother Cadfael acted in a way you disagree with. Describe the situation. Why did Brother Cadfael act this way? What were the consequences of his actions? Why do you disagree with Brother Cadfael's reaction to the situation? How would you have reacted? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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