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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 type of houses do merchants of the Northmen use?

2. Why does Ibn's party stop after they leave the Oguz?

3. How many gates does Trelburg have?

4. From whom has a letter arrived where Ibn lives?

5. What amazes Ibn about the hall?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the Northmen hold funeral rites for their leader?

2. What is Ibn's writing style and why does he write like that?

3. What kind of man is Ibn, and how much has he traveled before this journey?

4. How long was Ibn gone, and how did he tell about his journey?

5. How does Ibn end up telling a story in Rothgar's Hall?

6. What does Ibn think of Rothgar's Hall when he first sees it and what does Herger say about the hall?

7. What is the river Gayih like and what happens when Ibn crosses it?

8. What is the letter that is mentioned in Chapter One?

9. What do the Northmen merchants have to sell and where do they sell it?

10. How is the Northmen's fear explained to Ibn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rothgar has five sons who should have been able to gather a suitable war party to face the wendol. However, the sons of Rothgar are too concerned with obtaining their father's throne to notice that the kingdom they wish to rule is under attack. Wiglif is more concerned with whether or not Buliwyf means to take Rothgar's throne than the fact there may soon be no village left to rule.

1. If Rothgar's five sons are fighting each other for his position, what does this say about what kind of kings the sons might be? Use examples from the text and your research to support your answer.

2. In view of the fact that Rothgar's sons could pull together enough men to fight the wendol why do you think Buliwyf should go help Rothgar? Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your own life to support your answer.

3. How does the cliche: "Can't see the apple for the tree," relate to what Rothgar's sons are doing? Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Michael Crichton.

2. What in Crichton's background may have helped Crichton in writing "Eaters of the Dead"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

"Eaters of the Dead" belongs to the historical fiction fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical 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 science fiction novel and a historical fiction fantasy novel?

(see the answer keys)

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