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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 wins, when Appethorpe spars with Michael in Chapter 11?

2. Where does St. Vier go after the duel?

3. What is Basil's position on swordsmen's right to refuse a job?

4. When he hears about the rebellion, when does Basil want to go and deal with the revolt?

5. What causes Michael to throw himself into his swordfighting training?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it ill-advised for Lord Horn to send the letter he sends to Richard?

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

3. What is the conflict between Lord Basil Halliday and Lord Karleigh?

4. What does Richard say after he kills Brent?

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

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

7. What message does Lord Ferris ask Katherine to send to Richard?

8. What does Ginnie Vandall think of Richard's performance in the sword fight?

9. When Basil meets with Lord Ferris, what does he ask Lord Ferris to do?

10. What is Alec's advice to Richard about the job Richard has been offered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the setting of the novel.

1) How is the geographical layout of the town important to the novel? How do the different locations relate to and reveal different social classes?

2) What importance do different areas of Riverside have in the novel? What does the Old Market add to the story as a setting? What about the taverns in the novel?

3) What importance does the Duchess's barge have in the novel as a setting? What does the setting of the river add to the novel?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, Richard seeks revenge for Alec. Discuss revenge in the novel.

1) Why does Richard want to hurt those who have hurt Alec? What motives are mixed with a desire for revenge?

2) What other characters want vengeance in the novel? How do they seek revenge? How do characters hurt others who have hurt them?

3) What is Michael's attitude toward revenge? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Richard, as a swordsman, has a violent and even bloodthirsty role in the novel. Discuss violence and death in the novel.

1) How does the society look at death? How seriously does the society take death and violence?

2) What power does Richard's ability to inflict death give him? What other characters gain power through death and violence?

3) How is violence viewed differently by the different social classes in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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