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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 kind of job does Pechvarry have?

2. With whom is Ged sent to study?

3. Where on the island does the dragon live?

4. How does Jasper react to Ged not showing them any of his spells?

5. What surprising information does Vetch offer Ged?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ged running away from the Shadow symbolize?

2. What does the death of Pechvarry's child represent to Ged?

3. Why do you think Duny receives his new name on his 13th birthday?

4. Why do you think LeGuin's book harks back to the Middle Ages?

5. What do you think the shadow represents to Ged?

6. Is it significant that the shadow appears immediately after Ged has tried to help the dying child?

7. Why is it important Ged has a good friend like Vetch?

8. Why do you think Jasper and Ged become such enemies?

9. What do you think Ged will learn at wizard school that he cannot learn with Ogion?

10. How is pride proving Ged's biggest obstacle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Wizard of Earthsea is a fantasy novel with many of the conventions you would associate with the fantasy genre.

1) Discuss what you already know about the fantasy genre. What do you think are the conventions of a fantasy book in terms of structure, characters and themes?

2) What kind of fantasy book is Wizard of Earthsea? What conventions does it use from the genre? Does it take anything from any other genre? Does Le Guin subvert any of the fantasy genres conventions?

Essay Topic 2

The Wizard of Earthsea is set in a world that is similar to the Middle Ages. Like the Middle Ages, wizard and dragons are an important part of society and people believe in their powers.

1) Why do you think Le Guin has chosen to recreate a world reminiscent of the Middle Ages? Is this typical of fantasy fiction?

2) Discuss how different the novel would be if it was set in contemporary times. What problems would there be with suspension of belief? How could the writer get over these problems?

Essay Topic 3

A Wizard of Earthsea details Ged's coming of age.

1) What problems does Ged have to overcome? How does he overcome them? At what point does Ged become free of his problems and how does he react to this freedom?

2) What do you think would have happened to Ged if he went to Roke instead of facing the Shadow? Do you think this would have signified his defeat.

3) Discuss why it is so important for Ged to achieve something special? What do you think has triggered his ambition.

(see the answer keys)

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