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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 man do when Crispin answers him?

2. What did Bear do after the performers disbanded?

3. What does Quinel give to the boy?

4. Where is the man going when Crispin meets him?

5. What does the boy tell Father Quinel about the accusations about him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Crispin go into a house, what does he see, how does he react and what does he hear as he is running away?

2. What do the two men say about the steward, and how does the boy think about what they say?

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

4. What does Quinel give the boy, and what does he tell him about the boy's situation?

5. What does Crispin see when he looks inside a church and what is Crispin asked?

6. What does Bear tell Crispin he does in his travels?

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

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

9. How does Bear feel about what they see and what do he and Crispin do about it?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During the Middle Ages, men were considered much more important than women. Money and property were passed down from fathers to sons. In the story, the main character is known only as Asta's son, because he does not know who his father is. He is treated badly by others because he has no father and so is seen as less important. He is not even given a proper name. He feels sad about this and cannot help thinking badly of himself, even though his situation is not his fault.

1. Why do you think the human society evolved with men being more important than women? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Considering without modern technology it was impossible to prove who an infant's father was but a mother is always known, explain why it would be more logical for children's identity to pass through the maternal side of a family.

3. Children like Crispin who was born out of wedlock were ostracized and looked down upon throughout much of human history up to just the last twenty years. Discuss the implications of a child having to pay for what was considered his or her parents' mistake. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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