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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 Master Gurloes ask Severian when he is summoned to the master's office?

2. What does Severian name the dog?

3. Who sent the people to the guild?

4. Who is Hildegrin?

5. What does a journeyman torturer wear as part of his uniform?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Severian prepares to leave the city following the execution of Agilus, what does he learn about the priestesses?

2. What happened to the other men that Agilus and Agia had challenged in the same manner as Severian?

3. Why do the priestesses at the holy building search Agia?

4. Why does the guild teach torturer apprentices to tend wounds?

5. Why does Severian hide the coin he receives from Vodalus?

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

7. Why does Vodalus give Severian a gold coin?

8. What does Thecla hope the Autarch will do?

9. What vision do Severian and Dorcas see following the duel?

10. What does Agia have Severian disguise himself as when they leave the shop to find the avern?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is justice used in Shadow & Claw? Which characters mete out justice? Which events show characters delivering punishment that could be seen as unjust? What do these examples of justice and unjust punishment reveal about the author and his views?

Essay Topic 2

Describe compassion as a motif of Shadow & Claw. In what instances do we see compassion in the novel? Who shows compassion? Does compassion seem to be a strange motif given the nature of Severian's profession? Did the author chose to make Severian a compassionate man?

Essay Topic 3

Death is treated with much ceremony and dignity throughout Shadow & Claw. What does this treatment of death reveal about Severian? What does it reveal about the author's own thoughts on death?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 565 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample