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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 is Joaquim's goal?

2. What happens at the end of Chapter 19?

3. What is Yul afraid of when he and Birle go to the marketplace?

4. Who is the woman who sits with the Earl in his room?

5. What does Joaquim tell Birle will happen eventually in the city because of Corbel's marriage?

Short Essay Questions

1. Birle realizes that Corbel, along with being cruel and greedy, is also clever. How is he clever, especially with the throwing of the feast?

2. How does Corbel see Birle differently now in Chapter 16?

3. When Orien is injured and Birle rushes to the laboratory, what does she realize?

4. What does Birle decide at the end of Chapter 19?

5. What is Birle grateful for having known?

6. What sort of reputation has Birle earned in Chapter 17 amongst the people of the city while being a slave?

7. In Chapter 21, once Orien is well, what differences does he say is in Birle's character?

8. What changes occur in Orien and Birle's relationship in Chapter 21 after Birle and Orien have escaped slavery and Orien is now healed?

9. Why does Birle reveal to Joaquim that she can read?

10. Who is Lady Fortune and what does Joaquim say about her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Birle and Orien are the novel's two main character who journey together and face many obstacles both together and separately. Analyze their relationship and discuss the dynamics of it. In the beginning, what sort of relationship do they have? How does Birle feel for Orien? How does Orien feel for Birle? What does their relationship evolve into, and how? Do you see it coming? Have any feelings changed? Has the relationship changed? How? What events lead to the decisions in the end? Use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Many times people take something that has been given to them or something that they have learned for granted. Often times these gifts are taken for granted because people cannot see their true worth. Sometimes one might understand the true value of a gift and sometimes, never. For Birle, the two "treasures" she ultimately finds very useful to have is the ability to read and write. How did she initially feel about being given this treasure by her grandparents and why did she feel this way? Along her journey, how did her views of being able to read and write change? In what instances was it helpful? How does she regard her treasures by the end? Be specific using examples.

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