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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 time of the year does Ged stay with Master Namer?

2. What does Ged tell the girl he can do?

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

4. Who shows Ged around the Wizard school?

5. How does Ged kill the first dragon?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think it is important for Ged to have a nemesis like Jasper?

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

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

4. Do you think Duny has anything that initially sets him out from others?

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

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

7. Why do you think Ged is so enthusiastic about going to Wizard School?

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

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

10. Do you think Duny's Aunt initially sets out to use him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think would have happened to Ged if the shadow had defeated him? Does Le Guin hint at what this alternative life would be like?

Essay Topic 2

Pick one of the following themes from the story and discuss how it contributes to the story's meaning.

1) Pride.

2) Coming of Age

3) Friendship

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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