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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 Ash tell Samuel he needs to do?

2. Where does Mr. Ash decide to travel?

3. What does Mona think she might do to satisfy her curiosity about the Taltos?

4. Where does Ash arrive in Chapter Nine?

5. What does Yuri think a member of the Talmasca did?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Yuri tell Ash when Ash arrives in London?

2. What is Mona craving while pregnant, what does she fear and what does Mary Jane say about Mona's fears?

3. What does Ash ask Yuri to do and what does Ash tell Yuri he must not do?

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

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

6. What does Rowan want to know about the room where Lasher kept her and what does Mona know about the information Rowan wants?

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

8. 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?

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

10. What does Mona crave when she wakes and why does Ryan come by the house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Taltos. Questions that Rice most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Rice's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Rice's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Rice and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 2

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or ideas that are not a part of the "real" world. In the case of Taltos, much of the setting may seem familiar to the reader (i.e. it is in the "real" world), though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of Taltos that occur in the "real" world, but are used differently in Taltos.

2. Define the words as used in Taltos's world, and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of Taltos. Did you have to look up any words? What does it mean to learn a word through its context? Do you have to do that in Taltos? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from Taltos? Which ones?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an important part of what makes Taltos interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Ash. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Rowan. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Mona. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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