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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. Who arrives to cast away Ged's spell

2. What does Ged have to study?

3. At what age does Duny have his naming ceremony?

4. Why does Ged decide to leave Torning?

5. What time of year does Ged study?

Short Essay Questions

1. What signs of maturity does Ged show against the dragon?

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

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

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

5. What do you think the differences are between a town witch and a wizard?

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

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

8. Why do you think Ged opts to take a position in Gorning?

9. What negative aspects of Ged's character does the reader learn about in this chapter?

10. What does Le Guin show about Ged's character when he is looking for the school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ged builds some lasting friendships, but he also makes enemies. One of these enemies is Jasper. Discuss the importance of Jasper as a character. What purpose does he serve in the story? How is he important to Ged's development? Why do you think Le Guin does not bring him him back to the story.

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

The book follows Ged through some of the important years of his life and divides it into three periods.

1) From 7-13 at the the Gont village.

2) From 13-16 training to be a wizard, first with Ogion and then at the wizard school in Roke.

3) From 16 he tries to find himself in the world.

Take one of the periods and discuss what he learns and the problems he faces.

(see the answer keys)

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