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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 attacks Ged?

2. Who does Ged meet in a meadow?

3. What happens when Ged says the spell?

4. Where does the new Archmage come from?

5. Why does Ged run back home?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Is it significant that characters can deplete the powers of both wizards and dragons by saying their real names?

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

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

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

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

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

8. How does Ged overcompensate for his mistakes?

9. Why is it significant that Vetch tells Ged his real name?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, Ged has two choices--join the dark side or join the good side.

1) Who represents the good and dark sides in each part of the novel? What is each side working towards? Is Ged ever tempted to join the dark side?

2) Why do you think the Shadow appears? Does Le Guin foreshadow its presence? Is so, how?

3) What is it about Ged's character and upbringing that means he has to fight and defeat his darkside? Why do none of the other characters seem to have a similar problem?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

When Ged visits Iffish, he says he says he has a good feeling about the place before meeting his good friend Vetch. Why do you think Ged likes the town so much? Does the town reflect Vetch's personality? If so what similarity does the setting have with Vetch's character?

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