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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. Whose thoughts overtake Severian while he sleeps in the prison at the House of Absolute?

2. Why can't the green man go home?

3. When Thea meets with Severian, what information does Severian give Thea?

4. What does Severian borrow from Jonas after reading the letter slid under the door?

5. Who goes mad and attacks people during the Dr. Talos' final play?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the witches in the castle assure Severian and Dorcas of concerning Jolenta?

2. What does the green man tell Severian about Agia?

3. Why is Severian sad when he sees Agia and the archers after leaving the caves?

4. Why does Barnoch look half dead when Severian first sees him?

5. Following the feast, Severian and Jonas are captured by guards. Where are they taken?

6. What do the beasts Severian encounters in the cave look like?

7. What does Severian say about the magic fountain that leads the reader to believe it may have been correct about Severian's future?

8. In Thecla's letter to Severian, how does she say she escaped?

9. Why is Severian unable to kill Agia?

10. Why does Severian begin to feel sick while he is waiting for the feast to begin?

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

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 606 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample