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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. Of what does Bear say he is part?

2. Who does Crispin see at the village?

3. What does Crispin see in one of the houses in the village?

4. What position does John Aycliffe hold in the village?

5. What does Bear begin teaching Crispin the second morning they are together?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Crispin go the night he sees Quinel, who is there and what is he told to do? What is he given?

2. Who spots the boy in the forest and what do they do?

3. What does Crispin tell Bear about the Lord of the manor in Stromford and what does Bear say about that Lord/

4. Who is the man Crispin has agreed to serve, and what does he do for a living?

5. How does the boy feel about what he is told, and what does he do about it?

6. Why does Crispin agree to serve the man?

7. What does Bear make Crispin do in the morning, how does Crispin feel about it and what does Bear begin to teach Crispin?

8. How does the man treat Crispin and how does Crispin feel about it?

9. Why does the boy go to the church, and what does the priest first tell him?

10. How did Bear pick up his trade?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Crispin has now been given something that he has never had before; a sense of identity. He never even knew his name, or thought much about himself. Now he has been reminded that he did have a father at one point, and has been told his real name. Suddenly Crispin begins to feel like a real person, rather than the nobody that people had always treated him as. He thinks about his new name, finding it strange but also exciting and pleasing. He compares it to trying on a new garment, which is desirable but not yet comfortable. He is happy to have an identity, but it will take some time to get used to it. He will also have to try to learn a little more about who he really is.

1. Discuss why most people consider their name to be important to their identity. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Crispin has always had an identity and a personality even before he knew his name; he simply could not see this or conceive of it. Explain, based on what has been shown of Crispin's society, why this might happen to someone like Crispin. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think knowing his name has made Crispin change in relation to thinking about having a father, when it is obvious that any human born has a father? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

"Crispin: The Cross of Lead" belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 3

Crispin finds it very hard to cope with his situation. As he grows more tired and hungry, he begins to lose hope. He even begins to wish that he was dead, thinking that his suffering would be over and he could see his mother again. When he sees the dead man on the gallows, however, his mind is instantly changed. He comes face to face with the horror of death and realizes how much he actually wants to be alive. He realizes that his feelings were brought on by deep sadness and fear, and that he does not really want to die at all.

1. Why do you think Crispin might wish to be dead in his situation? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think someone who sees death, either in a friend or in a close brush with death is more likely to appreciate living than someone who has not confronted mortality? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Peasants in that era and location lived fairly brutal, short and difficult lives yet still continued living and having children even knowing what kind of life their children faced. Discuss why you think humans in this situation do this. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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