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. How does Nat save Roper's life?

2. What class does Henry Condell teach?

3. What is performed that afternoon at the Globe?

4. What is the name of Shakespeare's son?

5. Who offers to let Nat live with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Nat wake in the beginning of Chapter 4?

2. How does Roper conspire to make Nat look bad?

3. How is Nat different from the other apprentices and to what do the apprentices attribute the differences?

4. What is the purpose of the games and what does Nat think of some of the games?

5. Who arrives at Shakespeare's home and forces his way upstairs to talk about what?

6. What happens to Nat at the beginning of the first day of rehearsals on the stage at Globe?

7. What happens to make Nat feel uncomfortable with his fellow actors?

8. How does Nat respond when Shakespeare calls the group a family and what does Shakespeare do?

9. How does Nat increase his acting skills, in particular playing the character of Puck?

10. What does Nat learn about the Globe Theater of 1599?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think the King of Shadows is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Nat of 1999 is a about sixteen when the novel opens. Discuss the following:

1. What are some ways that Nat seems like an average sixteen year old? Give examples and why you say the activities are average teen activities.

2. What are some ways that Nat seems older than sixteen? Give specific examples and discuss whether they seem consistent with the character of Nat as he is developed throughout the book.

3. Is it realistic to think Nat could handle the situations that arise in the novel in the ways he does? How much impact do you think Nat's father's suicide had on his growing up faster?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as King of Shadows help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading King of Shadows? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "King of Shadows" to discuss and compare Nat's response to that of two other characters and to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,056 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample