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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 does Stuart admit knowing about when Ash questions him?

2. What do Marklin and Tommy believe about Yuri?

3. Who does Ash intend to seek?

4. About what are Rowan and Michael skeptical?

5. What does Ash say about Tessa?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mona have the habit of doing, and what does she tell Rowan?

2. What does Rowan remember at the morgue and what does she think about the people who love her?

3. Where does Ashland live, and why does he hire a young woman?

4. Who does Yuri call in New Orleans, what does he learn and what conclusion does he draw from the information?

5. What are Marklin and Tommy discussing when they return to the Motherhouse, and how does Marklin feel about entering the house?

6. Where does the woman in the Motherhouse take Ash, and what does he do there?

7. What does Ash say is the reason humans want to find a Taltos and what does Yuri say about someone who could bear a Taltos child?

8. What does Ash say about humans' reaction to him?

9. What does Ash do when he meets Stuart, how does Stuart respond and where do they go?

10. Why is Stuart angry at Marklin and Tommy, how does Marklin respond and what does Tommy say about the situation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Taltos, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in Taltos. (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Taltos belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fantasy genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a fantasy and a main stream novel? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Taltos is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

(see the answer keys)

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