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. What is the source of the story about women with wings that Anodos retells?

2. What does the small woman tell Anodos he will discover?

3. As Anodos wanders through the Fairy Palace, what happens to his thoughts about the shadow?

4. What can Anodos sense the presence of, but not see, inside the Fairy Palace?

5. When Anodos swims in the basin -- above the water, he is in the basin, but where does he seem to be below the water?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it appropriate that Anodos meets the old woman and her daughter first as he travels through Fairy Land?

2. Why do you think Anodos' room is transformed into a forest rather than another type of nature environment?

3. Why must Anodos be careful about introducing new concepts to the people of Fairy Land?

4. What does Anodos' experience with the Maiden of the Alder show him about Fairy Land?

5. Why does Anodos awaken a little disoriented the day after his twenty-first birthday?

6. From the time Anodos finds the ogre's hut, what events lead the reader to the conclusion that the shadow will bring trouble to Anodos?

7. A small woman granting wishes, secret compartments, and fairy godmothers are typical of what genre of literature?

8. Why do you think there are obstacles in the natural environment Anodos travels through when he leaves the forest?

9. How does Anodos' visit with the old woman affect his naivete?

10. How does Anodos show his immaturity when he awakens the stone maiden?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which part of Phantastes came alive for you; that is, in which part did you feel that what was happening to Anodos was vicariously happening to you? Why? How did the author do this? Were you immediately drawn into the story, or did it take a while? Why? Did the book intrigue,amuse, disturb, alienate, or irritate, you? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Why did George MacDonald choose Phantastes for the title of the novel? Why do you think he chose to begin the title with the letters "Ph" rather than "F"? Give examples from the book that explain the title. Do you think the title fits the book? Why or why not? If you could give the book a different title, what would it be? Give reasons for your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Symbols intensify meaning. Identify one of each from Phantastes--a character, an action, and an object that stand for something greater than itself. Explain the meaning of the symbol and how the symbol affects Anodos. Did the author's use of symbolism add or detract from your understanding of the book? How?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample