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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. When the Lord of Blackthorn dies, what happens?

2. After Lancelot leaves Queen Guinevere's room the next morning, blood from Lancelot's wounded fingers is found on the sheets. Who does Meleagant accuse of having bedded the Queen?

3. Who tells the story of finding an ugly peasant and a knight appearing after a storm?

4. What town does Yvain travel to?

5. What object does the girl try to keep Lancelot from seeing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What actions of Lancelot's in The Knight of the Cart are considered shameful, and why?

2. What is the story behind the storm stone in The Knight with the Lion?

3. What does Lunete give to Yvain, and why?

4. What is the dispute between the two daughters of the Lord of Blackthorn?

5. In The Knight of the Cart, why does the girl who offers lodging to Lancelot try to keep him from seeing the comb?

6. How does Lancelot attempt to regain his pride from his shameful cart ride in The Knight of the Cart?

7. Why does Yvain go in search of the spring?

8. Why does Lunete offer to help Yvain escape when he is trapped?

9. What are a few examples of Lancelot's demonstrating his love for the Queen in The Knight of the Cart?

10. What is the irony of King Bademagu keeping the Queen safely confined in The Knight of the Cart?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does religion play a role in the Arthurian Romances? What religious views were shared in medieval times? How is religion depicted in the tales? Use specific examples from each story.

Essay Topic 2

The first story in the Arthurian Romances is Erec and Enide. Choose one of the following topics to discuss in regards to the tale. Be sure to use specific examples from the text and use additional outside research where necessary to completely answer the questions.

a) Can Erec and Enide be considered a love story? Why or why not? What sets it apart from other tales of love written in literature?

b) Erec and Enide is said to closely parallel the Welsh story "Mabinogian: Gereint Son of Erbin." Research this tale and compare and contrast it to Erec and Enide. Which was written first? What message does each story deliver? If it's the same message, which does it more effectively?

c) Discuss Erec as the main character and his relationships with others. What do these relationships tell us about him, and what is his personality like? Does he remain the same throughout or does he change? How do you know?

Essay Topic 3

Who is Chretien de Troyes and why did he start writing Arthurian romances? Where did he get his ideas and what new ideas or characters is he credited with? Research the author's life and give a historical background, tying it in with his contribution to the legends through his romances. Be sure to include the importance of his creation of Lancelot and the Lancelot-Guinevere relationship. Have others used his works and characters and built on them, writing their own versions?

(see the answer keys)

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