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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 Shadow when he wakes up after his night of drinking with Wednesday?

2. To what Norse god do the Vikings of Chapter 3 build a hall in America?

3. What does Richie Hinzelmann do for a living?

4. What noise causes Shadow to hide at the beginning of Chapter 7?

5. At the end of Chapter 3, the Vikings sacrifice a scraeling in preparation for what season?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Shadow Moon's dream in Chapter 3.

2. What is the Lakeside raffle?

3. What is the full story surrounding Laura Moon's death?

4. How is Audrey Burton's behavior at Laura Moon's funeral surprising to Shadow?

5. What is Shadow Moon's role in Wednesday's scam?

6. What dream does Shadow have on his flight?

7. How does Shadow become acquainted with Lakeside?

8. Describe Shadow's temptation by Media.

9. Who are Mr. Ibis and Mr. Jacquel?

10. Describe Shadow's dream in Chapter 8.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Coins play an important role in the novel. They are more than merely metal indicators of monetary value: they are powerful symbols. Write an essay about coins as a symbol in the novel, focusing on their value to three characters. What function do they serve beyond their monetary significance? Do they offer strength? Protection? Some other strange power? What happens when they are given or lost?

Part 1) Shadow Moon

Part 2) Mad Sweeney

Part 3) Zorya Polunochnyaya

Essay Topic 2

The question of human sacrifice's validity as a divine rite emerges in several different forms throughout the novel. Gaiman's opinions regarding it seem conflicted. Write an essay on the topic of human-sacrifice, focusing on three instances of it throughout the novel:

Part 1) Write a paragraph about the arrival of the Vikings in America. Why do they build a hall to Odin as soon as they arrive, and how is their killing of a scraeling connected to this celebration of Odin? What purpose does it serve within the framework of this group's faith? In the end, how do the Vikings suffer as a result of this sacrifice?

Part 2) Why does Shadow choose to sacrifice his life for Wednesday? What does he intend to achieve, and does he succeed? Write a paragraph on this topic, noting the arguments against self-sacrifice made to him on the tree. How does he respond to these entreaties?

Part 3) What is Richie Hinzelmann's connection with human sacrifice? Why does he partake in this practice? In this paragraph, include Shadow's reaction to Hinzelmann's activity. What does this reaction say about the author's feelings about human sacrifice?

Essay Topic 3

AMERICAN GODS takes place in all of America simultaneously, but much of its action is focused on the small town of Lakeside. This town is, in essence, the novel's main setting. Write an essay profiling the setting of Lakeside, focusing on three character residents and their relationship to the town. What is each resident's function in the town? Is this resident harboring a secret of some sort? Is he or she living with some pain, desire, or inner demon? How does this character react to Shadow's arrival in Lakeside?

(see the answer keys)

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