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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 dies protecting the Pope from falling fire debris?

2. What practice does Joan institute in the churches of Fulda that causes her to be punished for disobedience?

3. To what position does the new Pope promote Joan?

4. What position in the church does Anastasius hope to one day achieve?

5. What practice that Joan was previously punished for incorporating into church services is widely incorporated now?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Who begins to plot against Pope Joan because of her ideas?

3. What does Joan implement in order to help slow the spread of the plague during Church services?

4. Why does Pope Leo excommunicate Anastasius?

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

6. Who is working behind the new Pope, Pope Sergius, in order to increase his own power?

7. Why does Benedict abandon his brother and leave Rome?

8. What truth does Joan learn when she sees Gerold again? How does Joan react to Gerold's request to run away?

9. How does Pope Leo die? Who is elected to take his place?

10. Why does Joan finally agree to run away with Gerold?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Anastasius? Why does his father force him to watch the murder of his father? What emotions do this episode inspire in Anastasius? Why does the author introduce Anastasius this early in the novel? What does Anastasius' witnessing of the murder and his appearance this early in the novel foreshadow as the plot continues to develop? Is Anastasius' father looking out for his son or is he trying to promote some agenda of his own?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Discuss one of the following themes, citing examples from the novel:

1. Oppression of women

2. Religion

3. Politics.

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