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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. Hearing what name causes everyone's attitude to change in the city that Birle and Orien are taken to?

2. What does Birle finally reveal to the Lord?

3. On the first evening, what does Birle attempt to request of the Lord?

4. What does Birle promise the Lord?

5. What mistake does Birle make when the Lord pulls out his map?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the name Corbel seem to stand for, who uses it, and why?

2. What convinces the Lord to accept Birle as a traveling companion?

3. Why does Orien pretend to be like Ker and Torson when the brothers begin to look at Birle as a woman?

4. What do the Lord and Birle discuss about second marriages and second wives?

5. What leads Birle to suspect that perhaps the Lord might have committed a wrongdoing against another Lord?

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

7. Chapter 2 discusses a brief family background of Birle's. Who is Granda, Gran, Lyss, Da, and Nan and how are they related to Birle?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

We meet Gladaegal as we near the end of the novel. Compare and contrast Gladaegal and Orien. How is their relationship with one another? Who might make a better Earl, and why?

Essay Topic 2

Birle has an interesting relationship with Nan. Describe who Nan is and how she is related to Birle. What does Birle feel for Nan given their relationship? How does she feel about her in the beginning of the book compared to the end? Throughout the novel, Nan is mentioned or thought of by Birle. Are these thoughts positive or negative? Why is Birle thinking about Nan and what does she owe to Nan? Discuss their relationship and how it has affected Birle's person. Use examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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