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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 does Birle promise the Lord?

2. What does the Lord tell Birle about the life of a wife of a huntsman?

3. How does Birle distract the Lord when he says he will take her back to the village?

4. Why does the Lord agree to take Birle with him on his journey?

5. Who is Birle's master?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Birle used to shirk from her inn duties?

2. Describe Ker and Torson's treatment of Orien and Birle.

3. What information do we finally learn about the Lord in Chapter 7? Why did he not reveal his identity sooner?

4. In what ways does Birle demonstrate her independence and usefulness to the reader and Orien in Chapter 3?

5. For a young girl and an Innkeeper's daughter, Birle displays a very independent nature. Give a few examples of how she displays this in Chapter 1.

6. Joaquim and Corbel are brothers, yet they are vastly different. Briefly describe their differences and mention why Corbel keeps Joaquim around.

7. What drives Birle to suggest that she travel with the Lord, and what compels him to agree?

8. Briefly describe the discussion about Doubt that the Lord and Birle have.

9. Describe Corbel's initial appearance and his character.

10. Describe how Birle is treated by the middling man.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although not said specifically, the idea of karma (what goes around comes around) is hinted at several times throughout the book. Define karma and what you think it means. Find the examples in the book which exemplify karma.

Essay Topic 2

The concept of fear is used throughout the book, especially by Corbel. What is fear and how does it control a man? How does a man control it? How does a man use fear as a means of control? Discuss the ideas of fear and control as separate entities and how they work together. Use examples and characters from the book. Mention the times that Birle has been afraid and analyze why. Was it another person who made her afraid or an outside force? Was her fear justified?

Essay Topic 3

Yul is an interesting character who is present for a large portion of the novel. He has a special connection with Birle. Analyze and discuss this connection that they share. How did it start? Could Birle have this kind of connection with anyone else? What do these two go through together? What eventually leads them to separate? Does this mean that their connection is also severed?

(see the answer keys)

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