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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 an old man tell Ibn about Wiglif?

2. Why doesn't Ibn leave Hurot?

3. What do the Northwomen look like?

4. When does Buliwyf have seven horses prepared?

5. What kind of power does Herger say the dwarfs have?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are wounded warriors treated for their wounds?

2. How is Ibn finally able to leave Rothgar's Hall?

3. What does Herger tell Ibn about the wendol's mother?

4. How does Wiglif end up dead?

5. What does Buliwyf tell the men to do once they have scaled the cliffs and how is Ibn feeling?

6. What does Ibn see as the wendol approach at night and what does he think it is?

7. What does the dwarf soothsayer tell Buliwyf?

8. What does Herger tell Ibn about why the Vikings are not more excited after the first battle?

9. What is the landscape like in the Desert of Dread?

10. What do the warriors do when they reach a region of caves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ibn Fadlan's writing style may be strange to readers. Ibn Fadlan does a wonderful job of baiting the reader's attention. He tells of coming to a forest and seeing mountains with hot springs gushing from them. These areas sound enchanting to the reader but he is left to devise a mental picture on his own. Ibn Fadlan does not offer flowing descriptions of the land he passes through or even comment on how he feels about the journey.

1. Did Ibn's writing style entice you to read farther or did you feel it was not interesting? Why or why not?

Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your own life to support your answer.

2. Would you rather read a book about a place you have never seen with a lot of description or just a minimal so that you can visualize your own picture? Explain why you would prefer one or the other. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Do you think the book would have been more interesting if more of Ibn's feelings had been shown? Why or why not? Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss "Eaters of the Dead" based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if this is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for young teens versus adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Eaters of the Dead" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Eaters of the Dead" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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