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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 is an avern?

2. Who takes Severian to find the avern?

3. What is the guild forbidden to have in regards to the people sent there?

4. Who is Hethor?

5. How is Agilus executed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Thecla hope the Autarch will do?

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 realize about the ferryman who carries him and Agia across the river to get the avern?

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

6. What happens to anything that touches the leaves of an avern?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How does the author build a sense of mystery in Shadow & Claw? What purpose does the element of mystery serve? Provide specific examples of mysterious events or statements to support your ideas.

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This section contains 549 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample