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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 happened to the Taltos island?

2. What does Mona keep telling Morrigan?

3. What is Mary Jane carrying in her basket?

4. What do the humans call the Taltos when they first begin a village among the humans?

5. With whom does Ash leave the Taltos paradise?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Mary Jane bringing to her home on a boat and why does she need him?

2. How is Mona doing when she and Mary Jane arrive at the dock and what does she tell Mary Jane?

3. How does Ash come to write the book Stuart had in his possession?

4. How did many Taltos women die, and what happens when a Taltos dies? Why was life good for the Taltos?

5. What does Rowan tell Ash about a Taltos female, and what is Ash's reaction to the news?

6. What does Granny tell Mona about walking babies?

7. What does Ash say about how the Taltos first lived peaceably with humans?

8. What does Rowan tell Ash about Michael's fears about telling Ash the truth?

9. What is the problem between witches and the Talos, and what is the rumor about Taltos's blood and witches? How was Taltos blood introduced into the human race?

10. What was happening in some of the Taltos villages in relation to humans and how does Ash and his people respond to the happenings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In Taltos, there seems to be many individuals/groups who are not trustworthy: Discuss one of the following:

1. Name two groups/factions/individuals who are untrustworthy, and analyze their actions and impact upon the plot throughout Taltos.

2. Name two groups/factions/individuals who are trustworthy, and analyze their actions and impact upon the plot throughout Taltos.

3. Who do you think Ash trusts in this book and is his trust well founded? Who does he mistrust and why? Give specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Taltos. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in Taltos. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in Taltos. Consider the death of whole races such as the Taltos or the Little People. Include the homicides that happen in Taltos.

(see the answer keys)

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