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. Where does Ygraine suggest Arthur be taken once born?

2. Who does Merlin meet in the settlement where he stops to get his horse re-shod?

3. What is inscribed on the temple altar in the Temple of Mithras?

4. Who does Merlin find fighting off three men on horseback?

5. Where does Merlin first see visions?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Uther reveal to Merlin about his injury? How does this effect his concern for Arthur?

2. Why does Merlin feel that he cannot share information, even with Ahdjan, a relative, so far from Britain?

3. The spring after Arthur's twelfth birthday brings the rumblings of war to England. What happens?

4. What are some of the extraordinary qualities attributed to Merlin? How many, if any, of them are true? What is the truth about Merlin?

5. What question does Bedwyr raise while at the chapel with Arthur and Merlin that others have not asked? How does Arthur respond?

6. Merlin meets Morgause, Uther's illegitimate daughter, after developing a medicine for the ailing Uther. What are Merlin's impressions of Morgause? Does the author give any indication that there is more to Morgause than is being revealed?

7. What story does Merlin tell the young goat herd who is caring for him after he injures his hand? Why does he tell him the story?

8. What does the term "Flood Year" refer to? Why is it important to the story?

9. Why does Merlin spend so much time traveling all over Europe? Where does he go? How long is he gone?

10. Merlin asks the messenger to give him all the information he has on the world outside of Merlin's cave. He tells him about the war and the invading Saxons. What significance does this play to the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Merlin picks and chooses when to reveal his true identity while Arthur is growing up. What does he gain with each approach? Give specific examples of each.

Essay Topic 2

After the battle against Colgrim, it is clear that Arthur has a significant amount of backing as Uther's heir. But, even as Merlin leaves Uther certain of the succession, he is uneasy. Why? What concerns are still present?

Essay Topic 3

The white deer appears in this story more than once. Where does it appear and what is its significance in each situation? To the story overall?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,137 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample