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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. About what does Dirk tease Talia?

2. What is a Herald?

3. What is one thing Talia does at court each day?

4. What is happening in the tack shed of the companion's field?

5. Why isn't Talia expected for duty the next morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are two essential Heralds?

2. What starts Kris and Talia's journey off a little roughly?

3. How does Talia's gift cause a little tension between Talia and Kris?

4. What does the reader learn about Talia's life as a child and what Queen Selenay does after hearing the same information?

5. What news does Talia get that afternoon and who delivers the news?

6. What is the worse mistake that the Queen's Own, Talamir, makes?

7. What does Kyril teach Talia?

8. Why do the Council meetings disturb Talia?

9. What concerns Talia about Elspeth?

10. What does Talia find on her door when she rises the next morning?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Arrow's Flight is successful as a fantasy novel? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of Mercedes Lackey's Herald and Companion series? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not.

4. Do you think that a reader expects that not all loose ends are tied up in a book in a series, unless it's the last book?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. What do you think is the purpose of irony? Discuss the irony of the situation that Talia is involved sexually with Kris, when it's his best friend, Dirk, that Talia really feels attracted to? What other irony occurs in Arrow's Flight? Discuss two or three incidences of irony and whether they enhance your reading experience.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in Arrow's Flight.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in literature. What is the purpose of foreshadowing? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is used to indicate events to come in Arrow's Flight.

Essay Topic 3

Arrow's Flight belongs to the literary genre of fantasy fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly define the term genre and offer examples of it from your own reading experience. Why do you think it is useful to categorize fiction into genres? What could be a disadvantage of doing so?

2. What do you think is the main motivation for a person to read a fantasy novel? Is entertainment a good enough reason? Are there any other reasons to read this genre? What? Explain fully.

3. In "academe," fantasy novels are often thought of as less literary than some other genres and for that reason are sometimes "snubbed" in the study of literature. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with this "snobbery"?

(see the answer keys)

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