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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 say in attempts to convince the Lord to take him with her on his journey?

2. What relation do Joaquim and Corbel have?

3. What does the Lord finally reveal to Birle as they are talking during the period of being stranded?

4. What does Orien do to mark their presence where he and Birle are stranded?

5. Who else do Birle and the Lord discover is out on the waters with them?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In the beginning of her travels down the river with the Lord, Birle notes differences between him and men that she knows. What are they?

4. 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.

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

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

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

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

9. 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?

10. What are the "treasures" Birle's grandparents bestow upon her and why are they so important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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

Birle wants control of her own life and situations, but she continually feels that fortune has a hand in everything. Joaquim even says "There are some who say that the Lady Fortune has a wheel , and all men are fixed upon it. The wheel turns, the men rise or fall, with the turning of the wheel." What does Joaquim mean with this statement? Who is Lady Fortune and how does it relate to Birle's view of fortune? How does fortune take away Birle's control?

(see the answer keys)

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