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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. With whom do Michael and Rowan meet?

2. What does Rowan think Lasher wrote before his mind deteriorated?

3. Who does Ash intend to seek?

4. Who does Mona say she will avoid?

5. What does Ash discover about the women of the Little People?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Ash do when he drives to Donnelaith and what does he hear?

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

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

6. What does Yuri tell Rowan and Michael about the Little People, and what does Rowan say is the first step?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Taltos are immortal and Ash is said to have been around since the beginning of time. Discuss the following:

1. What sort of cultural problems do you think the United States would have if it were suddenly discovered that 1% of its population possessed immortality like the Taltos?

2. Would you want to part of the 1% of the population who are immortal? Why or why not?

3. Do you think most people would use their immortality for good or evil? Explain.

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

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Anne Rice.

2. What in Rice's background may have helped him in writing Taltos? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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