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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 are the orders to the drow army concerning Blingdenstone?

2. On what does Uthegental base his decision about Blingdenstone?

3. How many soldiers does Sumpet's orders add to the battle at Keeper's Dale?

4. What do Harkle and Bella don DelRoy encounter towards the end of Chapter Twenty-Four?

5. What is Lady Alustriel doing in Chapter Twenty-Two as she watches the battle?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might those in Keeper's Dale have a rough battle?

2. What does Lady Alustriel do at the beginning of the battle and for what are her knights responsible?

3. What does Drizzt decide about Catti-brie and her battles?

4. Describe how Uthegental is killed.

5. What has Uthegental been told to do about Blingdenstone but what does he do? What does he find?

6. What does Drizzt do when he goes to where Catti-brie is practicing her sword? What does he notice about her sword?

7. How do Pwent and his men help Bidderdoo fulfill his mission?

8. What does Drizzt discuss in his prologue to Chapter Twenty-Three?

9. Why is Catti-brie crying when Drizzt finds her on the plateau and how do she and he resolve her problem?

10. What does Drizzt do with the figurine in Chapter Thirteen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the world of academe, fantasy is often considered an inferior form of the novel compared to "classic" literature. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think fantasy might be considered second-rate compared to the classics?

2. Do you think fantasy has the same elements as the classics? Why or why not?

3. What are the purposes do you think for people reading "the classics"? What are the purposed for people reading fantasy? Is one purpose better than another? Explain your response.

4. Would you read fantasy even outside an educational setting? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of Belwar being relieved when he learns the city of Bingdenstone has been attacked. Find two other instances of irony and analyze them.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from SIEGE OF DARKNESS. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in SIEGE OF DARKNESS and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible devices: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

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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