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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. In what direction do Ged and Vetch travel?

2. Why is Pechvarry so unhappy with his friend?

3. How many people does Ged find sitting in the shack

4. What saves Ged from drowning?

5. What do Ged and Vetch teach the islanders on Atowell?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is it important to the story that Ged's mother died during his early childhood?

2. At what point in this chapter does Ged show his increasing maturity?

3. Why do you think Ged is initially reluctant to allow his friend to come with him?

4. What does it symbolize that Ged cannot get back to Roke?

5. What does Ged learn from his confrontation with Skiorh?

6. Why does Ged seek security at Roke and not in his hometown in Gont?

7. How is the couple's refusal to leave the island comparative to Ged's need to move on?

8. Why does LeGuin change the point of view from Ged to Ogion?

9. Why do you think Ged decides magic is not everything?

10. Why does Pechvarry act so negatively towards Ged?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the importance of ancient traditions in the novel. Do you think tradition holds Ged and the younger characters back? How does it affect the tone of the novel? Does it represent a split between the younger and older generations?

Essay Topic 2

Ursula Le Guin is famous as a feminist science fiction and fantasy writer. How do you think she portrays her female characters in this book? Why do you think she has so few female characters? Do think this is a statement in itself?

Essay Topic 3

The Wizard of Earthsea is a children's book and as such is very different in style to that of an adult book.

1) How is the language Le Guin's uses different from the language she would use in an adult book. Does she use shorter sentences and shorter paragraphs. What kind of vocabulary does she use?

2) How do the themes reflect the problems of childhood and adulthood? For what age group is a Wizard of Earthsea aimed?

(see the answer keys)

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