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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 Drizzt say Mielikki represents?

2. What does Matron Baenre tell her children in a meeting in Chapter Nine?

3. What kind of comments does Berkthgar make to Catti-brie?

4. Through what are Catti-brie and Drizzt traveling at the beginning of Chapter Two?

5. Who does not attend the meeting of the House Matrons?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the Matrons do at the gathering to prepare for K'yorl?

2. What does Drizzt ask himself about faith and what is his answer?

3. At the beginning of the book why is Errtu angered and what does Errtu believe?

4. What happens when Berg'inyon parries with an elf and how do the others react? Why to they react that way?

5. What do Drizzt and Catti-brie do in Chapter Three at the beginning, who does he call, how does he call it and what do they when they finish?

6. How does Berkthgar respond when Drizzt and Catti-brie are explaining why they have come and what is Catti-brie's response?

7. Who visits Matron Baenre in Chapter Ten and what does she tell her? What does she give her and why?

8. Who saves Matron Baenre from K'yorl and what does K'yorl do?

9. What does Lolth tell Errtu about the pantheon and the future and what does she fear?

10. What are Jarlaxle's thoughts on the discussion he had with Gromph after Gromph leaves him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the main characteristics of the drow and the others in the underworld is that they seem to like to inflict pain on others. They are absolutely amoral and spends most of their time torturing and murdering those they dislike, which is just about everyone.

1. Unfortunately there are a number of people in the world who seem to like to inflict pain on themselves or others. Following research on sadism, discuss why the drow are sadists with examples from the book.

2. There is obviously deep seated psychological reasons why someone would derive pleasure from pain, either their own pain or someone else. Is it possible that people who feel this way have some common factors in childhood? Discuss reasons from a childhood you think could form a person to become a sadist.

3. There is great debate in criminal justice circles as to whether someone who commits homicide is mentally ill. Some say anyone who kills another human being except in self defense has to be mentally ill because sane people don't kill other people. Do you agree with this? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In some ways, a novel that includes magic is full of "narrative contrivances." Discuss the following:

1. Define and offer examples of the literary device "narrative contrivance."

2. Does the fact that magic can do or undo almost anything change the way one reads a book whose world includes magic? For example, if one of your favorite characters dies in a world of magic, might there always be the expectation that somehow that character is not really dead, that magic will change the fact? How does a setting that includes magic change the reading experience?

3. Since magic can make almost anything happen (or not happen), then would a book such as Siege of Darkness not actually need to contain any narrative contrivances? Explain.

4. Why do you think people like to read books about worlds that contain magic? Do you? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

SIEGE OF DARKNESS, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of SIEGE OF DARKNESS and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why SIEGE OF DARKNESS is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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