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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 Akki offer to get Jakkin?

2. What does Jakkin tell Red?

3. What does Jakkin wonder about Akki concerning Sarkkhan's home?

4. Who is Ardru?

5. Where does Jakkin entice the young dragon to go?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jakkin find at his oasis which worries him, and what does he think he can do about it?

2. What happens as Jakkin approaches his oasis and why does he trip over his dragon?

3. Why is Jakkin ashamed, and how does he handle that feeling?

4. Why is Jakkin momentarily disappointed when he arrives back to his oasis after leaving the kitchen, but what does he then remind himself?

5. Who is Jakkin's Red's first opponent and how does Jakkin feel about that?

6. How does Jakkin know something is wrong when he and his dragon are swimming at the opening of Chapter 14?

7. Who has Akki arranged to carry Jakkin's dragon and what does Jakkin wonder about the man?

8. What does Jakkin do as soon as he realizes there is a drakk nearby?

9. What does Jakkin wonder about Akki as the two are walking back to the bondhouse?

10. What does Jakkin think about rites of passage to manhood and what precipitated his thoughts on the subject?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dragon's Blood is one book in a series of novels involving Jakkin and the planet of Austar IV. Discuss the following.

1. What are a couple advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

2. What are a couple disadvantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a standalone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult (or about the same) to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

Trace and analyze the theme of power throughout Dragon's Blood. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with power? Why? What are some symbols of power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless? Will power always be unbalanced in a society such as that on Austar IV?

Trace and analyze the theme of hope throughout Dragon's Blood. What characters are most concerned with hope? Why? What are some symbols of hope? How does the ability to communicate with a dragon give an automatic advantage to someone over another who cannot? Is there abuse of this ability?

Trace and analyze the theme of ambition throughout Dragon's Blood. What characters are ambitious? Why? What are some symbols of ambition? Symbols of apathy? Are more characters ambitious or apathetic? Why do you think some characters seem ambitious and others do not? What personality traits seem common to those who are ambitious? What about those who are content to stay in their station?

Essay Topic 3

Dragon's Blood, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Dragon's Blood and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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