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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 kind of party does the Duchess hold in Chapter 19?

2. How does Alec react to Richard killing Lord Horn?

3. Who accepts Richard's challenge against Michael?

4. What does Alec do when he realizes he's being followed?

5. Who does Lord Horn want to help him with Richard?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what reason does Richard claim he killed Lord Horn?

2. Where does Richard meet Katherine after the trial?

3. How does Richard feel about the duel he participates in during Chapter 16?

4. What allows Richard to win the duel in Chapter 16?

5. How do Alec and Richard react to Lord Horn lying at the trial?

6. What does the Duchess tell Alec about Richard and their relationship after Richard has left?

7. Why does Lord Ferris want to see Richard after he is captured?

8. What objection does Alec pose to writing the letter?

9. How does Basil Halliday react to the news of Lord Horn's death?

10. What does Richard think of the performance he and Alec go to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Swordsmanship is central to the novel. Discuss sword fighting in the novel.

1) What changes about Michael after he studies sword fighting? What causes him to change?

2) What does sword fighting require? Is it a laudable occupation? What drives Richard to be a swordsman?

3) Basil believes hiring swordsmen is barbaric. Explain his point of view. Why does he think it is barbaric? How true is his depiction?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the characters' values in the novel.

1) What are the values of the lower class? What do they find important?

2) What are Richard's values and how do they drive his actions? What are Alec and Katherine's values?

3) What are the values of the upper class? What do Lord Horn, Lord Ferris, and the Duchess value?

4) What does Basil value, and how do his values differ from other nobility? What about Michael? What does he value?

(see the answer keys)

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