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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 Aycliffe decide to do?

2. Where are Bear and Crispin given a place to sleep at the inn?

3. Why is Crispin concerned about their departure?

4. What does Bear do when Aycliff is distracted?

5. What does Cripin tell Bear as they are leaving the village?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Crispin decide to do after he gets away from Aycliffe?

2. What do Aycliffe and Crispin swear to each other?

3. What happens when Bear and Crispin reach the gate at Great Wexley and how does Crispin feel about being inside the city?

4. How does Crispin run into Aycliffe in Great Wexley,and what happens when he does see him?

5. How does Crispin get away from Aycliffe?

6. What does Crispin tell Bear as they leave the village and what is Bear's response?

7. What does Crispin do after he runs from the meeting place, and what happens to him at the tavern?

8. How does Crispin get to the White Stag Inn?

9. What does Widow Daventry do when she sees Crispin in the common room and how does Bear feel about her actions?

10. What is Bear's opinion on rebellion and what is John Ball's opinion on it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Crispin: The Cross of Lead". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Crispin: The Cross of Lead". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Crispin: The Cross of Lead". In addition to the theme of actual death of characters and its theme, consider in your answer the death of innocence in Crispin from the beginning of the book to the end.

Essay Topic 3

Over the course of "Crispin: The Cross of Lead", Crispin grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" might be considered a slice of Crispin's larger story of his "coming of age." It might be said that this book is a "bildungsroman" of Crispin. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Rick as he changes from a more carefree, innocent boy to a wiser, young man. What are the significant events that change Rick?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Crispin's growth throughout "Crispin: The Cross of Lead", do you think this book could be considered Crispin's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

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