View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of tool does Karrin use on Grum?

2. What does Harry decide when he sees the battle between the courts?

3. What does Aurora tell Harry she would do if he would stop working for Winter?

4. Why does Karrin get angry during her meeting with Harry at Walmart?

5. What does Harry realize about Elaine's last statement?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Elaine in Harry's car when he finishes talking with Meryl and what does he do with her?

2. Why does Harry call the White Council and what is the result of that call?

3. What does the Summer Lady tell Harry about the Summer and Winter court?

4. What do Winter and Summer agree to do with Harry and what do they require? Do they fulfill their bargain?

5. Why does Harry call his grandmother and what does she tell him?

6. How does Harry respond to Meryl's request and why?

7. What does Lea show Harry and what does Harry learn from it?

8. Where do Harry and Murphy run into Grum after leaving the store?

9. What does Aurora tell Harry about what she plans to do with the Summer Knight power? What will result from her actions?

10. Who are the people Harry encountered at the funeral and why do they want to hire Harry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Summer Knight is one book in a series of novels involving Harry Dresden. Discuss the following.

1. What are a couple advantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

2. What are a couple disadvantages of writing a series of novels about the same characters? Use examples.

3. Do you prefer to read a stand alone book, or a series of books with the same main characters? Explain your response.

4. Do you think it is easier or more difficult (or about the same) to write a standalone book versus one in a series? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by this book. Questions that most likely Butcher wanted the readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. Name one idea or concept you think may have been a part of the author's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Butcher's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface? Why or why not?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author? Upon what do you base your opinion?

Essay Topic 3

Interesting characters contribute a great deal to the success of most novels. Discuss one of the following using specific examples from the text in your discussion:

1. Harry is singly the most important and most visible character of all the characters. Discuss Harry's most prominent character strengths and flaws and how they impact the other characters in the novel.

2. Define the term "character foil" and discuss which characters serve as a "foil" to Harry's character. How do they do so? Why do they do so? How does having a foil to a character help define and make that character more complex? How does it do so in Harry's case?

3. Discuss four secondary characters. What are their flaws and strengths? How do they contribute or detract from Harry's efforts at a normal, quiet life? What is Harry's opinion of each of the four characters? Does he like them? Tolerate them? Admire or despise them? Use specific examples from the text in your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,311 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample