View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Michael decide to do about the deaths of Applethorpe and Lord Horn?

2. What does Alec think Richard should have for the performance?

3. Where does Alec take Richard after his trial?

4. What does Richard do when the Duchess offers him a ruby ring?

5. Who arrives at the performance during intermission?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Lord Horn feel when he finds Richard has broken into his house?

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

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

4. What letter do the kidnappers ask Alec to write to Richard?

5. How does the Duchess see her relationship with Lord Ferris?

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

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

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

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

10. How does the Duchess act toward Michael?

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

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 803 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample