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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. Where is Michael when he wakes after being knocked unconscious?

2. How many of Lord Horn's swordsmen have been killed?

3. What does the Duchess ask Michael to do, to be safe from Lord Horn?

4. What does Richard say to his opponent at the end of the duel?

5. Why did the Duchess want Richard brought to court?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the Duchess tell Katherine after Alec injures himself?

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

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

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

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

6. What does Alec give to the Duchess?

7. What does Richard say about the death of Lord Horn's swordsmen?

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

9. How does the Duchess act toward Michael?

10. What does Katherine think she recognizes about Alec?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The main characters of the novel are gay lovers. Discuss gender and sex in the novel.

1) How does the society of the novel view bisexuality and homosexuality? Are Alec and Richard accepted as lovers? Why or why not?

2) How do the different classes of the society view sex differently? How do they view promiscuity as well as homosexuality?

3) What role does the fact that Alec and Richard are the same gender play in the novel? Does it make a difference?

Essay Topic 2

In many way, the novel is a love story about Richard and Alec. Discuss love in the novel.

1) How does Richard express his love for Alec? What does love mean to Richard?

2) How does Alec express his love for Richard? What does love mean to Alec?

3) How do the other characters express love? Is love different among different social classes? How is love viewed by society in general?

Essay Topic 3

Several of the characters in the novel take self-destructive action. Discuss self-destruction in the novel.

1) Why is Alec self-destructive? How does Richard respond to his self-destructive tendencies?

2) In what ways is Richard self-destructive? How does he put himself in harm's way?

3) What other characters are self-destructive? How do they harm themselves through their actions or inactions?

(see the answer keys)

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