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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. After hearing the three stories about Cuchulain's youth, what do they Irishmen think?

2. What does the fairy warrior offer to do for Cuchulain?

3. What does Cuchulain do each night?

4. Before the battle begins, what does Cuchulain see that shocks him?

5. Cuchulain comes across one of the men of Ireland. What does he help him do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the battle at Fintan called the tooth-fight?

2. At first, Ferdiad did not want to fight his old friend Cuchulain. What changed his mind?

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

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

5. Why does Forgemen die?

6. How does Medb anger Cuchulain by sending six druids to fight him?

7. Cuchulain lets Medb resettle her army, but meanwhile what is happening?

8. How does Medb show she is a little worried about the strength of the Ulstermen?

9. Why is Cuchulain not happy with his father's actions in The Repeated Warning of Sualtaim? What does Cuchulain have to do in the end?

10. Why does Fergus decide to talk to Medb? What does he tell Medb about what Cuchulain wants to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"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.

Essay Topic 2

Choose either of the following:

(a) Explain and give examples that support the characterization of Cuchulain as a superhuman young man with magical qualities. Compare and contrast this with the character of Medb, as presented in the book. Why does the author present the characters this way?

(b) Cuchulain is also presented as fairly ruthless early in the book but later on we start to see his more vulnerable, human side. Compare and contrast these two sides of Cuchulain's nature, citing four examples for each.

Essay Topic 3

A "motif" is an important idea or image that reoccurs in a literary work. Name four motifs that occur in The Battle Raid of Cooley and support each with two examples.

(see the answer keys)

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