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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 is the reason for the English forces' withdrawal?

2. When did Llelo spend a lot of time with his grandfather?

3. What is Nell afraid for?

4. What does she want by this opposition?

5. Where is Gruffydd's father dying?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Simon's experience fighting with Henry against the French.

2. Who attends Llewelyn and Owain's surrender to King Henry?

3. What happens when Davydd dies?

4. How does Davydd capture Gruffydd and Owain?

5. How does King Henry respond when it becomes clear that his sister is not pregnant?

6. Describe Johanna's death.

7. Why is Henry unhappy about Nell's marriage to Simon?

8. Why is Nell concerned when she is in Sicily, waiting for her husband?

9. What happens to Llelo when Senena attempts to rescue her husband and son?

10. What is Simon de Montfort's effect on John the Scot's household?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the challenges in historical fiction is to relate the general sweep of history in a way that retains the feeling of personal experience for the people involved in that history. How does Sharon Kay Penman manage to keep the personal and the historical within sight of each other? Use specific instances from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Evaluate your own reading of Falls the Shadow--did you resist it, or were you compelled by the story? What does your reading tell you about yourself and your interests? Use specific examples from the book to describe yourself as a reader.

Essay Topic 3

Who is the hero of Falls the Shadow? Is there one distinct hero? What other characters are competing for that position? What does it mean to be a hero in Falls the Shadow?

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This section contains 683 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample