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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 taunts Tristram over his infidelity in "The Last Tournament"?

2. Whose forces are defeated in the battle in "Guinevere"?

3. Who is the one person to whom Guinevere talks in "Guinevere"?

4. To where does Arthur's army push the opposing forces in "The Passing of Arthur"?

5. After passing through the swamp, where does Sir Percivale see the Grail in "The Holy Grail"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the story of the ruby necklace in "The Last Tournament"?

2. Describe the allegory of Eden in "Guinevere."

3. What does the exposition reveal of the diamonds in "Lancelot and Elaine"?

4. How does Tennyson break apart from the medieval vision of love in "Lancelot and Elaine" - and essentially in the book as a whole?

5. What allegory does Tennyson refer to in "To the Queen"?

6. What can desire do to the human soul, as per the allegory in "Guinevere"? What of anger?

7. What is happening to Camelot in "The Last Tournament"?

8. Who arrives before the tournament in "The Last Tournament" and what news does he relay?

9. What is taking place in the beginning of "Guinevere"?

10. Describe the allegory of the human soul in "Guinevere."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Tennyson's use of symbolism and motif in "Idylls of the King." How do these examples illustrate the stories' themes?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the subject of sorcery in "Idylls of the King." Who represents this concept in particular? How did this character originate? What was the medieval belief of magic?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Tennyson's use of imagery (simile and metaphor) in the stories of "Idylls of the King." In what ways do these examples reflect the style of the Romantics?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 884 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample