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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. How does the Queen get the arrows?

2. What does the Dean teach Talia?

3. What do her ambushers do?

4. What is the unknown nobleman's goal for Elspeth?

5. What can all Heralds do regardless of their individual gifts?

Short Essay Questions

1. What subject does Sherrill broach with Talia before Sherrill leaves on her first assignment?

2. What does Skif ask of Talia and how does Talia respond?

3. Who does Talia confide in and what does he tell her?

4. What does Talia decide she needs to do as she is growing in her gift and duties?

5. What other gifts does it appear Talia possesses?

6. How does Talia learn about Ylsa's death?

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

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

9. How is Talia's life at the Collegium three years after her arrival?

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

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 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 2

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Silent Prey is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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