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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 Kin ask Marco to do with the demon?

2. With regards to Silver's impending madness, what course of action does Kin initially suggest?

3. Where does Kin hide from her captors?

4. What does Kin request from the Djinnee?

5. What destroys the dumbwaiter?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unusual about the stars seen from the flat planet?

2. How does Kin escape after the man whom she and the others meet in the desert turns on them?

3. What happens to Silver as she and the others near the hub?

4. What are the man on the flying carpet's real motivations?

5. What does the group do with the winged demon?

6. What is the group being followed by, and how is it unusual?

7. Describe the creature put into the cell next to Kin. What does the group eventually learn and speculate about it?

8. What do the locals intend to do with Kin, and how is this prevented?

9. What is Marco's plan, and what do Kin and Silver think about it?

10. What is unusual about the first island that Kin and the others come to after leaving the sailors' homeland? What danger does the group face there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Hero's Journey," a collection of archetypal story elements, was suggested by Joseph Campbell as an explanatory tool for understanding storytelling. The structure of this novel demonstrates several of Campbell's archetypes.

Part 1) Explain Campbell's "Hero's Journey." Could the author have been aware of this concept, and does it appear to have informed his writing?

Part 2) Discuss ways in which elements of the plot correspond to stages from the hero's journey. Explain each stage that applies and cite the section from the book that corresponds to it, giving examples and a full explanation of the correspondence.

Part 3) Discuss stages of the hero's journey that are not present in the novel. Are these omissions demanded by the plot? Would the story have been significantly enhanced by the addition of any particular archetype?

Essay Topic 2

Terry Pratchett is an author known for his unusual sense of humor, and humorous events often play a critical role in his novels.

Part 1) Describe the general presence and use of humor in the novel. What dramatic purpose does it generally serve?

Part 2) What are some examples of humorous characters or situations that serve no other purpose than to be entertaining? Do these sections contribute in a positive way to the general mood and tone of the story?

Part 3) Describe some humorous characters or situations which drive the plot forward in important ways, or at important times. How does the use of humor affect these situations?

Essay Topic 3

There are many alien races presented in the book, and sometimes their differences are very important to the storyline.

Part 1) Enumerate the various alien races presented in the book, and describe their important characteristics.

Part 2) How do the historical races affect the story?

Part 3) How do the characteristics of the living races affect the story? Provide examples of times when non-human characters were driven more by their racial tendencies than their unique personalities.

Part 4) How and when do these characters overcome their predispositions for the better of themselves and those around them?

(see the answer keys)

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