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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 vow does Ash find appealing about which the Catholic priest tells Ash?

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

3. Where do Ash and the other Taltos with him eventually settle?

4. Who is accompanying Mary Jane to the boat?

5. Why is Mona having trouble walking?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Ash's group of Taltos eventually settle and how was their life? For what were the circle of stones used? What was one of the differences between Taltos babies in their new location as opposed to their old one?

2. What happens to Marklin and Tommy at the Motherhouse after the funeral for Stuart?

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

4. Why did some Taltos leave the paradise, what happens to the paradise and how do the Taltos feel about life in their new location? Why did Ash worry about the Taltos?

5. How does Ash begin the story of the Taltos?

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

7. What do Michael and Yuri talk about on the phone?

8. How does Ash hear about Christianity and how does he feel about that religion?

9. How did Ash's group of Taltos, especially the young ones, feel about the rest of the world?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Taltos based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Taltos is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Taltos a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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