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

2. What is one of the bull of Cooley's special powers?

3. Why was Cyr chosen to fight Cuchulain?

4. How does Morrigan disguise herself when she sees Cuchulain coming?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Cuchulain kill Tamon?

2. How do we know both the Irish and the Ulstermen are nervous the night before the great battle?

3. 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?

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

5. Medb decides she wants a great bull to match Ailill's. What is the outcome of this?

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

7. What are Medb's weak points? Give some examples.

8. What do we learn about Medb in "The Pillow Talk"?

9. How does Cuchulain heal Morrigan?

10. What promise does Cuchulain make to Luguid about his brother Larini?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The tragic flaw is used in literary works to show the weakness of humans and how it influences the outcomes of many situations. Write a short essay wherein you list what you consider five fatal flaws and how they can have a serious influence on people's lives. Choose one of these fatal flaws and apply it to a character in The Cattle Raid at Cooley and show how it influences the outcome of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Heroism is a very common theme in stories of myth and legend. (a) in your own words, explain why you think this is so and the purpose it serves; (b) Give three examples of how Cuchulain is presented as a hero, for example, what characteristics and skills does the author describe; and (c) The story of Cuchulain's childhood is chronicled early in the book. Give at least two reasons why it is structured this way.

Essay Topic 3

The pairing of conflict and archetypes are almost always elements of heroic tales. Considering this,

(a) define conflict and cite three examples of conflict in the novel,

(b) define archetypes and cite three examples of archetypes in the novel, (c) explain how conflict is built into the structure of The Cattle-Raid of Cooley, and

(d) explain how archetypes are used in Man vs. Man conflicts.

(see the answer keys)

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