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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. Who explains to Severian that the masked man has issued a challenge?

2. What does Severian find in his satchel following Agilus' execution?

3. What is Severian in charge of for the people sent to the guild?

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

5. Where is Severian sent to fetch books from?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does Severian do for Thecla that breaks a rule of the guild?

5. What happens to Severian's wounds from the duel?

6. How does the machine that Thecla is strapped to make a person feel?

7. Why does Severian put on his torturer's mask before entering the arena to duel?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

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 614 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample