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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. Who is Henry?

2. Why does the priest rush out of the room after the wedding ceremony?

3. Madelyne is surprised that one of the Wextons is happy that she marries into the family? Which Wexton is happy?

4. Madelyne almost gets herself injured when she does what?

5. What makes Anthony laugh at the end of Chapter 19?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Duncan insist that Gerald kiss Adela?

2. Why does Madelyne suspect that Duncan is sent to the country for a month to cool off?

3. Why does Madelyne practice archery so hard and long?

4. Edmond makes a complete change in his attitude toward Madeline, welcoming her to the Wexton family. Why?

5. What suggestion does Gilard make that he thinks solves Madelyne's problem and why is it a self-serving solution?

6. After dinner and Madelyne's singing, what alliances do Duncan and Edmond discuss with regard to Louddon?

7. Why does Madelyne make a sudden decision to marry Duncan?

8. What are three reasons that Madelyne is upset when Gilard and Edmond leave to give their forty days to their overlord?

9. Describe the aspects of family life that Duncan realizes is different than he is taught by his father.

10. What does Adela overhear in Chapter 13?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the end of the novel Madelyne is pregnant, although she doesn't immediately realize it and Duncan finally breaks the news to her. Pregnancy may be symbolic for a fulfillment of the future, new experiences, self awareness, personal growth and the cycle of life. How does the novel describe Madelyne's pregnancy? Why does everyone know that Madelyne is pregnant except for Madelyne? Is there more than one reason for this, an obvious reason and a less obvious one? What does this mean about Madelyne's self-awareness? Is Madelyne a changed woman from the beginning of the novel? Is there more room for growth? Is the pregnancy seen as a reward for Madelyne and Duncan, or something else? Pick three ways in which the pregnancy is symbolic of some aspect of the change in Madelyne, or the change in the relationship between Madelyne and Duncan. Use examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Madelyne overhears enough talk so that she believes that King William's brother Henry is becoming restless from lack of responsibility and may eventually try to overthrow William. Madelyne advises that the same situation brews between Duncan and his brothers if he doesn't find things that they can do on their own. Is there a foreshadowing of events in the Wexton family, the royal family, or both? Use the novel to provide examples of foreshadowing and explain how foreshadowing is used to build tension and interest in the story.

Essay Topic 3

In the novel it is revealed that Louddon has a sexual relationship with the king that gives him favor with the king, yet Louddon is strongly attracted to Madelyne's mother, then Madelyne. Louddon realizes what a valuable commodity Madelyne is and must choose between selling her into marriage for the money or keeping her for his own lustful purposes. Compare and contrast the lure of lust, power and money for Louddon. Does his greed for any of these lead to his downfall? If he is able to retain control of Madelyne, is it more likely he keeps her for himself or sells her into marriage for the money? Provide examples from the book to support your conclusions.

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