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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. What mode of transport does Katherine use when leaving the convent?

2. With whom does Katherine form a lifelong friendship when she is at the Pessoner home?

3. What is disturbing John most at this point in his life?

4. Who or what are the "four dread horsemen of the Apocalypse"?

5. What does Roger DeCheyne ask Katherine for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Katherine do during her pregnancy that leads the servants to believe she might be losing her mind?

2. Name some of the devastating events of 1369 and how they affect Kettlethorpe.

3. Who helps Katherine deliver her baby daughter, and what happens right after the umbilical cord is cut?

4. What does Philippa, Katherine's older sister, say in a letter that upsets Katherine deeply?

5. Describe changes in Katherine now from the Katherine introduced at the start of this story:

6. Despite his love for Katherine, who is the Duke of Lancaster hoping to marry, and why?

7. When Katherine leaves the convent where she has lived for the past five years, she is excited because she has yearned to experience life outside the Sheppey Priory walls. During the journey to the queen's court, and upon her arrival, what kinds of people does she meet who make her quickly realize how protected a life she has led?

8. What did you think of the duke when he expresses joy over Hugh's death?

9. Katherine meets her future husband Hugh Swyndon in this chapter of the story. Why does Katherine have reservations about marrying this man?

10. Initially the duke sends Katherine away, only to suddenly call her back when she's visiting Hawise and the Pessoners. Do you think the duke was rash to turn to Katherine so quickly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

By the time John Ball has led mobs of angry peasants into London, it's clear that there is a great disconnect between the royals and the serfs. The serfs are fed up with their lot and can no longer take it. Can you think of protest in American history that is similar to the peasant's protests against the poll tax and feudalism of medieval England?

Essay Topic 2

Anya Seton's "Katherine" is what is commonly referred to as historical fiction. In the "Author's Note", she says that she never distorted time, place or characters to suit her fiction. She did copious research in writing the story. She could have written about the famous Duke of Lancaster. "And yet Katherine was extremely important to English history". Why do you think she wrote this story? What do you think she wanted people to understand most about Katherine? About woman in medieval England? About English history?

Essay Topic 3

Religion plays a large role in the daily lives of people in the middle ages. Explain how two of Katherine's experiences--when she sees the "pyx" pass the Chaucer home and when Hugh's sword falls to the floor at the abbey-- demonstrate this point.

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