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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. Who helps the boy bury his mother?

2. What does the man tell Crispin the punishment for theft is?

3. What does Crispin do when he lies beside the road?

4. What does the boy hear he is accused of doing?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Bear pick up his trade?

2. Why does Bear push Crispin to learn what he is teaching?

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

4. What does the boy hear when he wakes?

5. What does Asta's son do the day after he slept in the village, and what does he hear two men say about him?

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

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. What does Crispin find on the south road and what does he think about it?

9. How does Bear provide dinner for him and Crispin and what does Bear say about the dinner and how he feels about it?

10. Who meets the boy and the man helping him, and what does that man tell the boy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in "Crispin: The Cross of Lead".

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of "Crispin: The Cross of Lead". How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of this story. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Crispin: The Cross of Lead", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Crispin: The Cross of Lead". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot.) Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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