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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 the spy find out?

2. What is the result of Finnabair's death?

3. Why is Fergus chosen to be the spokesman with the powerful men of Ulster?

4. Who finds the bull of Cooley?

5. How does Cuchulain kill Ferbaeth?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Medb and Ailill want to use their daughter Finnabair for their own ends? What is the result?

2. How does the book end with both victory and defeat?

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

4. Even though Cuchulain is keeping his end of the bargain, Medb and Ailill break theirs. How do they do this?

5. Who was Ferchu and what did he do?

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

7. What did Fergus and Cuchulain agree to do that they would never normally do. What was the result of this?

8. Why does Cuchulain feel so guilty about the slaughter of the Youths of Ulster?

9. Why do the Irish scorn the Ulstermen in "The Misthrow at Belach Eoin"?

10. At the mid-way point, how is the progress of the great battle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characterization of characters in literary works are often revealed to us by what they do.

(1) Choose four characters in The Cattle Raid at Cooley and give one detailed example of how their actions reveal their character, and

(2) Choose one of these characters and explain how this example have an influence on the outcome of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Mythical tales almost always contain elements of magic. (a) In your own words, explain why this is; (b) give four examples of magic as they apply to the warriors that confront Cuchulain, and (c) describe Morrigan the Fairy's actions in the book.

Essay Topic 3

"Imagery" is language that is used to portray something so that we can visualize an element of a story in our mind's eye.

(1) Give at least four examples from the book where imagery is used to enhance the story;

(2) Refer to Chapter 36 for specific examples of imagery that evoke a picture of Cuchulain as he appears to the women and civilians who are traveling with the army; and (3) State why you believe strong imagery is important when a story is told with only words.

(see the answer keys)

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