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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 the masked man give Severian in the shop?

2. Severian believes that going over the process of the execution with Agilus will help give him what?

3. What does Thecla hope for while she is imprisoned?

4. Why does Severian say he will meet with Agilus before he executes him?

5. How does Severian travel across the river on his way to find the avern?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Master Gurloes ask Severian if he wants to be a torturer?

2. Why does Severian refuse to take Agia's advice about the duel with the masked man?

3. What is Dorcas unable to do when she is pulled from the river?

4. How do Severian and his challenger attack each other with the averns?

5. Why do Severian and the other boys sneak to the gate of the graveyard?

6. What does Thecla hope the Autarch will do?

7. What do Severian and the other apprentices see when they go to the graveyard?

8. How is Severian saved from drowning in the river as he and the other apprentices return home from the graveyard?

9. According to Agilus, why did the masked man challenge Severian?

10. Why does Severian say he wants to be a torturer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the author use past tense to tell this story? What purpose does it serve? Does it add to or detract from the story? Would the story work if told in any other tense?

Essay Topic 2

What does the graveyard scene at the beginning of the book foreshadow? How does the author use the scene to hint at events yet to come? Is this instance of foreshadowing effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Describe what Severian's reaction to Thecla's letter reveals about his character? Why do you think a man in his position could be somewhat naive and gullible?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 601 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample