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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. Why is Agilus arrested after Severian battles his challenger?

2. What is the water like that the boys swim in on the way back from the graveyard?

3. At the beginning of Part 1, Chapter 7, who tells Severian to take the books to the end cell?

4. How does the guild celebrate Severian becoming a journeyman torturer?

5. What does Severian's challenger claim after Severian is struck with the avern?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Thecla hope the Autarch will do?

3. Who does Severian realize is Thecla's sister?

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

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

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

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

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

9. Why isn't the guild able to pass judgement on the people who are sent there?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

There are certain events within the book that draw the reader to make some correlation between Shadow & Claw and the Christian Bible. Identify at least three aspects of the book that can be compared to the Bible and explain each of them. Describe the aspects and Biblical references. Are the similarities intentional? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Why does the beautiful and frightening woman in the water thrust Severian from the water as a boy, but later invite him to join her in the water and be a king? Why didn't she simply take him with her when he was younger? Why does she want him to join her now?

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This section contains 624 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample