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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. Who does Joan believe might be responsible for the destruction of the Saracens due to divine presence?

2. How does Joan save Gerold during his trial?

3. Who burns the project in an attempt to hurt the Pope's role in Rome?

4. What is the cause of Joan's death?

5. What kind of a leader is Pope Leo?

Short Essay Questions

1. What warning does Joan give Pope Sergius in the face of the Saracen attack that he does not heed?

2. Why is Cardinal Leo elected Pope over Anastasius?

3. How do Gerold and Joan become stranded together in a boat?

4. What miracle does Joan create in order to stop the fighting between Pope Sergius and Lothar?

5. Why does Pope Leo excommunicate Anastasius?

6. Who is referred to as 'Little Pope' under Pope Leo? Why?

7. Who arrests Benedict? What punishment does he suffer?

8. What project does Joan immediately give to Gerold to oversee as she becomes Pope?

9. Who does Gerold support in the battle between the dead Emperor's three sons?

10. How does Joan prove Gerold innocent during his trial for treason?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Hrotrud forced to drown? What does this punishment say about religious beliefs in this time period? Why does Joan feel this punishment is illogical? Is Joan right? Why is Joan excited by the idea of applying logic to religion? Why has no one else ever attempted to apply logic to religion? Is it heretical to apply logic to religion? Is Joan religious? Does Joan believe in the Catholic Church? How does the reader come to understand Joan's feelings about her religion?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Joan's argument with Odo in regards to the inferiority of women. Why does Joan enter into this argument? What does Joan hope to prove with her argument? Why does Odo argue with Joan? What is his attitude toward Joan? How does Joan win this argument? What does this say about Joan's intelligence? How does this argument set the tone for Joan's stay at the school? Does this argument make Odo an enemy for Joan?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the political atmosphere in the time after the death of the Emperor. Who is to take over the government after the Emperor's death? Why is there a dispute over the Emperor's position? Which side does Gerold choose? What happens during the battle? How does this battle reflect the chaos common to this time period? Who will eventually rise to power after this battle? How will that affect the lives of the characters in this novel?

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