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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. To whom is Philippa engaged?

2. What happens when Katherine goes alone to the courtyard?

3. What does Katherine tell John when she returns to Bordeaux?

4. When John returns to celebrate St. George's Day, what does Katherine find Hawise doing in her bedroom?

5. Why does Katherine decide to ride her horse to visit the Duchess of Lancaster?

Short Essay Questions

1. Was it foolish of Katherine to refuse an escort back to Kettlethorpe? Why or why not?

2. Alice Perrers experiences the House of Commons's most viral attack. Of what do they accuse her?

3. Costanza tells John that she had a dream. What did she dream that sets this chapter into motion?

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

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

6. Describe Katherine's journey on the ship to Bordeaux.

7. Who takes Katherine from the pier to Hugh's lodgings when she arrives in Bordeaux? And how does Hugh receive this escort?

8. Who breaks up the fight between Roger DeCheyne and Hugh Swynford? And how does Katherine react to this?

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

10. Despite seeing the cross at the entrance to Bolingbroke that indicates the estate has been contaminated by the Plague, Katherine goes in. Why does she take such a risk?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Fate is a theme that threads throughout the novel. Despite Katherine's dislike for Hugh, she resigns herself to marrying him. How does this example illustrate the concept of accepting one's fate?

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

There are numerous ironic moments and events in this story, but by far, one of the most ironic is the friendship that develops between Katherine and Blanche, the Duchess of Lancaster. Explain how this friendship starts, how the two women get along, and why in the end it is deeply ironic.

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