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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 arrives at the trial to testify at the end of Chapter 25?

2. What does Alec do when Richard is invited to join the Duchess?

3. How does Richard respond to his friends who don't want him to see the performance?

4. What does Richard give Alec to wear when they go to the performance?

5. Who does Basil rely on to bring in Richard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Ginnie's reaction to the death of Lord Horn's swordsmen?

2. What is Richard and Alec's last night together like?

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

4. What does Alec give to the Duchess?

5. How did Katherine end her position with Lord Ferris?

6. How do the men who capture Richard incapacitate him?

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

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

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

10. During his meeting with the Duchess, what does Richard learn about the betting about him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The society of the nobles is filled with secrecy and manipulation. Discuss secrecy and manipulation and their role in the novel.

1) How do the nobles manipulate each other and those around them? What are they trying to achieve through manipulation? Use examples from the book.

2) What kinds of secrets do the characters in the novel keep, both about themselves and about others?

3) How does Alec's secrecy about his past differ from the noblemens' secrecy about their plots and schemes?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss rulership and leadership in the novel, where the nobility in the upper class has complete control over rulership of the country.

1) How do the nobles view rulership? What does the position of leader mean to the leadership themselves?

2) How does Basil view rulership? What is his goal as a leader, and the closest thing the society has to a king?

3) What qualities make a good leader in the novel? What qualities make a bad leader? Explain with examples of both good and bad leaders from the novel.

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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