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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. Where is the man from that heals Duny?

2. What does Ogion say Ged has to do to hear?

3. What happens to Duny after he casts the spell?

4. What age is Duny when a tribe attacks Gont?

5. How does Ged open the door to the wizard school?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How do you think the Archmage's death changes Ged?

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

5. Why do you think Jasper is so cruel to Ged?

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

7. Do you think Ogion understands Ged's needs?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

In the Wizard of Earthsea, a person's and even an animal's name is kept secret and if said by someone else can cause that person or animal to lose power. Why do you think names are so important in the book? Why do the wizards change their names?

Essay Topic 3

The Wizard of Earthsea was written in 1968, a year after the summer of love and consequently communicates some of the concerns of that period. Choose one of the following ideas from the book and discuss how they reflect the concerns of sixties culture.

1) Good vs evil

2) Friendship and adventure in preference to shutting yourself away from the world.

3) The importance of tradition.

(see the answer keys)

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