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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 does Ylsa realize about Talia?

2. What does the Queen want Talia to do?

3. What do Talia and Skif try to make happen?

4. Who wants Elspeth to become an active student in training?

5. What does Talia still need to do as far as her time at the Collegium?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Skif dressed in black one night and why does Talia do the same?

2. How does the Queen retrieve the arrows that killed Ylsa?

3. What does the Queen ask of Talia and what is Talia's response?

4. What does Talia learn about Hulda's actions concerning Elspeth?

5. What does Talia learn about Herald's Gifts?

6. What makes a significant change in Elspeth's attitude towards companions?

7. What does Talia learns about Hulda?

8. How is Talia saved from drowning?

9. What does Talia ask Skif to do and how does she rescue him?

10. What happens after the students return from Midwinter Festival?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 reading a book on Heralds and Companions and is suddenly "chosen" by Rolan, a Companion. What other irony occurs in Arrows of the Queen? 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 Arrows of the Queen.

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 Arrows of the Queen.

Essay Topic 2

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

1. Do you think Arrows of the Queen 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.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Arrows of the Queen based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Arrows of the Queen is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the fact that Arrows of the Queen is a novel in a series changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? What about the fact that it is a fantasy novel? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,044 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample