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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. To what resident of Lakeside is Sam Black Crow related?

2. Whose death does Wednesday admit to orchestrating in Chapter 18?

3. How does the town of Lakeside reason that Marguerite Olson's son disappeared?

4. Why is Agasu's arm cut off?

5. From what period is the Lakeside book of minutes that Shadow purchases in Chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Shadow experience on the tree on the second day of the vigil?

2. What connection forms between Wututu and Agasu when they are taken to America?

3. What does Shadow experience on the tree on the first day of the vigil?

4. What is Loki and Wednesday's plan for the battle?

5. What is backstage?

6. How does Laura Moon kill Mr. World in Chapter 18?

7. What betrayal occurs in the ranks of the new gods at the end of Chapter 17?

8. How does Shadow Moon interact with the camp of the new gods in Chapter 14?

9. What is the nature of Wednesday's vigil?

10. How does the war begin in Chapter 12?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the role of dreams in Neil Gaiman's novel. Shadow has a dream nearly every chapter. Who are the recurring figures in these dreams, and what messages do they deliver? Describe how these dreams serve to foreshadow events and drop clues for the reader? At any point, does the dream logic find its way into the waking hours of Shadow's life? How does Shadow as a character react to these dreams? Does he question their validity?

Essay Topic 2

In the character of Shadow Moon, Neil Gaiman has created a protagonist that, perhaps for selfish reasons, represents absolute loyalty. He demonstrates this through his commitment to Wednesday's campaign. Write an essay about this commitment, in three parts:

Part 1) Early in the novel, Shadow goes to extreme lengths to bring Czernobog on board with Wednesday. What agreement does he make with the fearsome god? How does this seem completely foolhardy? How, in the end, is Shadow rewarded for his commitment to others?

Part 2) When Ibis and Jacquel deliver news that Wednesday had been killed, does Shadow hesitate in agreeing to sacrifice himself to resurrect the god? Write a paragraph about his choice, focusing on the entreaties made by others for him to reconsider? What does he have to gain from this decision, and what does he have to lose?

Part 3) Write a summation paragraph examining Shadow's state of mind when he meets Shadow. What does he have to live for? Does he ever consider ending his own life? In what respect would death be a relief to him, and do you believe this affects the decisions he makes regarding Wednesday's war campaign?

Essay Topic 3

The mythos created by Neil Gaiman includes a backstage world, one that exists concurrent with our own. Write an essay about his world, examining its connection to humanity. How does it appear in relation our mortal existence? How do the old gods look in this backstage world? What about human beings? How are they affected by this backstage world? Is the backstage connected in any way with the afterlife?

(see the answer keys)

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