1. What is significant about the pledge of loyalty the Princes of Wales make to Llewelyn after a ceremony intended for the Princes of Wales to pledge allegiance to King John?

2. What gift does Joanna want to give to Llewelyn that she cannot wait until morning to deliver?

3. For what reason does Morgan tell Llewelyn that Richard might never have an heir to take over the crown of England should he be made Henry's heir?

4. Why does Joanna return to Aber two weeks sooner than planned in Chapter 20?

5. Who is Clemence? What is significant about her death?

6. What advice does Morgan, Llewelyn's priest and adviser, give Llewelyn after his encounter with Walter de Hodnet?

7. What conflict does King John find himself embroiled in with the Pope in Chapter 19?

8. Who is Stephen de Hodnet and why has he come to Llewelyn?

9. Why did King Henry have his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, imprisoned for multiple years?

10. What has Henry Plantagenet not done that has caused conflict between him and his remaining sons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Llewelyn? Why is he living in England when the novel begins? How does he feel about this situation? Why? How does Llewelyn respond to the attack by an English bully? Why is Llewelyn ashamed of his response to this attack? What does Llewelyn's mother hope the future will hold for him? What does Llewelyn want for his future? How does Llewelyn break free of his mother's expectations?

Essay Topic 2

Who is Joanna? What is significant about her birth? Why does Joanna's mother commit suicide? Why is Joanna sent to live with her father? How does Joanna's father respond to meeting his daughter for the first time? How does Joanna feel about her father? How does Joanna respond to meeting her stepmother for the first time? Why? What does this suggest about Joanna's future?