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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. Why does the fairy put magical herbs on Cuchulain while he sleeps?

2. Why does Medb want her men to tunnel through the mountain?

3. What does Ailill do about the marching boys of Ulster?

4. In her second disguise, Morrigan is an eel. What does she do to Cuchulain in battle?

5. What does the narrator tell the reader at the end of "The Foretelling"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Cuchulain accidentally kills Ferbaeth. What was his relationship with Ferbaeth?

2. How do the Irish women react to Cuchulain in his regular clothing and hairstyle?

3. Who does Cuchulain kill in "The Meeting of Cuchulain and Finnabair". Why?

4. What does the "red-shame of Menn" refer to?

5. Who does Cuchulain kill on the riverbank? Why were they there?

6. How did Cuchulain manage to kill the gigantic Mann?

7. Why does Cuchulain kill Lochi? Who is she?

8. As the battle approaches, what does Fergus see? What does he warn Ailill?

9. Describe Cuchulain's actions in "Now of the Battle".

10. What causes Cuchulain to become so enraged that he cannot recognize friend from foe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain what is meant by "plot structure". Explain the following elements in two or three sentences each, of plot structure as they apply to The Cattle Raid of Cooley:

a. Exposition

b. Rising Action

c. Climax

d. Falling Action

e. Resolution (or denouement).

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the exposition and the resolution components in The Cattle Raid of Cooley, as they relate to the state of the kingdoms of Ireland and Ulster, citing specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Define the literary term "antagonist". What is the role of an antagonist in literary works? Choose three of the characters below, and show why these characters are antagonists (with Cuchulain as the protagonist) in The Cattle Raid of Cooley (a) providing two examples of characteristics that make them an antagonist, and (b) providing two examples of situations where they behave as an antagonist..

a. Medb

b. Ailill

c. Morrigan

d. Etarcumul

(see the answer keys)

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