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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. How long does it take to get to Lienid?

2. What astonishes Bitterblue about Katsa's scratches?

3. Who is Giddon?

4. How do Katsa and Bitterblue disembark?

5. What does Katsa make out of some rabbit skins?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Po and Katsa find Bitterblue?

2. What does Po tell Katsa about his attempt on Leck?

3. How does Katsa figure out that Po is blind, what does she do when she realizes it and what is Po's response?

4. What do the other people in the room do when Katsa kills Leck and what is Bitterblue's response?

5. What does Po say about his blindness and how did he overcome his self-pity?

6. What happens to Katsa when she hears Leck, and how does Po save them?

7. How do Po and Katsa find a place for Po to hide?

8. Why do Po and Katsa leave for the forest early and what do they see when they reach the edge of the forest?

9. How does Po begin to recover some of his self-confidence and where do he and Katsa go in the spring?

10. What does Katsa tell the shopkeeper about why she is there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Graceling" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Graceling"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Graceling" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 2

Katsa is shown to want to be moral in that she will not kill the guards if it is not necessary. Katsa is a conflicted character who kills for her uncle King Randa but has been organizing a secret Council to right wrongs in all of the seven kingdoms.

1. Do you think Katsa made a wise decision to not kill the guards? Why or why not?

2. Discuss, with examples, why it appears that Katsa is conflicted about her morality.

3. Do you think Katsa's work with the secret council makes up for the fact of her killing people for the king? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Graceling", questions that Cashore 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 Cashore's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Cashore'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 Cashore and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

(see the answer keys)

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