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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 lives on the Hill?

2. How does Michael meet with Lord Horn, after Michael leaves his lover's house?

3. Where does Richard practice his swordsmanship?

4. Where does the Duchess invite Basil and Mary?

5. What is the value of the present Richard brings Alec?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the idea of becoming a swordsman a joke for Michael?

2. What explanation does Lord Ferris give Katherine for asking her to stay with himself, Lord Horn, and Basil?

3. What does Richard tell Katherine about Alec's background?

4. Why doesn't it matter what Michael is wearing at the Duchess's party?

5. What interferes with Ferris speaking privately with Basil after their dinner together?

6. Why does Michael originally decide that he will sleep with Lord Horn?

7. What is Michael's relationship with Vincent Applethorpe?

8. Who does Richard tell Ginnie to thank, and why?

9. What does Richard say after he kills Brent?

10. How does the Duchess act toward Michael during the party?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the play "The Swordman's Tragedy" within the novel.

1) What does the play reflect about the novel itself? Why does the author include it?

2) How do the different characters react to the superstitions surrounding the play? How do the existence of these superstitions affect the reader?

3) How does Richard perceive the play? What is his point of view about the play before seeing it and after watching it?

Essay Topic 2

Richard is the central figure of the novel. Discuss Richard's character.

1) How does Richard change from the beginning to the end of the novel. Does he change?

2) What motivates and drives Richard throughout the novel? What does he want or desire?

3) Why does the novel focus on Richard as a central character?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss fairness and equity in the book.

1) How are sword fights in the novel fair or unfair? How do the participants and audience benefit and suffer from them?

2) How are punishments meted out in the novel to the lower class and upper class? What roles do fairness and equity play in punishment and law?

3) What is fair or unfair about how Alec lures swordsmen to attack him and be killed? How does this relate to the class rules of the society?

(see the answer keys)

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