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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 was left in the ransacked cave?

2. What happens to Merlin as he approaches the house?

3. In Merlin's vision with Ambrosius, who is wearing the dragon brooch?

4. What do others believe the identity of Merlin's father is?

5. Where do Cadal and Merlin go to speak with Lady Niniane?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the significance of the scene Merlin saw with the bull?

2. What are some of the physical characteristics of Galapas?

3. What does Merlin tell Ambrosius about Lady Niniane?

4. What does Merlin overhear when he is hiding under the house?

5. What does Uther notice about Merlin when he grabs him?

6. Describe a typical day in Sergontium when Merlin and the rest go there.

7. What has Merlin been learning as his has spent his time in Less Britain with Ambrosius?

8. What does Cerdic do when he sees the cut on Merlin's face?

9. What does Merlin witness when he goes to the island in the bay?

10. How would Merlin be described when he was a young boy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Merlin may be intelligent, but he is also a survivor. He is willing to fight for his life, as needed.

Part 1 - Describe the times in which Merlin has battled the elements. What did he do to keep himself safe and sound?

Part 2 - How does the environment affect the actions of Merlin? What do the elements cause him to do?

Part 3 - When Merlin is freezing outside of the town in Book Two, what does he do to survive?

Essay Topic 2

The Crystal Cave is not only the title, but also a major setting in this story. To Merlin, it is a sort of birthplace for his powers and also a place where he restores himself.

Part 1 - Describe the appearance of the Crystal Cave and how Merlin came to find it in the first place.

Part 2 - Give at least 3 examples of lessons Merlin learned while in the Crystal Cave.

Part 3 - What do you think the Crystal Cave represents in the story? What is the larger metaphor for the cave's presence?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of the sight in this story is another recurrent idea. Some characters have the sight, but not everyone chooses to use it as others do.

Part 1 - List as many characters as you can that have the gift of the sight at any point in the novel.

Part 2 - What does the sight allow these characters to do?

Part 3 - What is the significance of the sight? What does it mean in a larger sense? What does it create for the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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