View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ibn see when one of the warriors shouts?

2. How many wendol guard the entrance to the mother's home?

3. Why does the group dismount when they come to the region of caves?

4. What does Buliwyf want Ibn to do?

5. What do the warriors drink in great quantities at the feast the night of the visit to the dwarfs?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ibn feel when he looks at the cliffs, what does he tell Herger and what does Herger tell him?

2. How does Ibn meet up and get to know a Northwoman?

3. What does Buliwyf do the night the wendol attack after they kill the mother and how does he look?

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

5. What do the Northmen do around mid-morning the day after the second battle?

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

7. How does Herger take care of a man who wants to kill Buliwyf?

8. What do the Northmen do the night they visited the dwarfs, and why does Ibn decide to join with them?

9. What do Herger and Ibn think of each others' religion?

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

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 "Eaters of the Dead", 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 "Eaters of the Dead". (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 this book. 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 "Eaters of the Dead". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Who is a coward? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Eaters of the Dead". What is Ibn's view of tradition? Guliwyf's view? Herger's? Why is death important to some characters? How is Ibn's view of death different than Buliwyf ?

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Eaters of the Dead". Questions that Crichton most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Crichton's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Crichton's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Crichton and if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,292 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample