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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 John Smith tell Will about Hunter's Combe?

2. What warning does Merriman tell Will after their first meeting?

3. What does Will find odd about the iron ornament's surface?

4. What emotion describes how Will is feeling when he wakes on Midwinter Day?

5. Which character proclaims that the burden is "so heavy...And I've been carrying it for so long"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What affect does the Lady have on Will's emotions and behavior?

2. Why are the tapestries important to Will?

3. Why is the Rider seeking Will?

4. Why does Maggie claim the Walker stole the sign from her?

5. How does Will demonstrate his immaturity when the Dark begins to rise?

6. In what ways does Mr. Dawson provide clues to both Will and the reader that Will is more than he seems and that things are going to be different for Will?

7. In what ways does the author imply that the iron ornament is important?

8. What does the Walker mean when he states, "It's so heavy...I've been carrying it for so long."

9. In the opening chapter, Midwinter's Eve, how does the author use Mr. Dawson to foreshadow events that happen to Will later that night?

10. What role does Merriman play in Will's education?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does The Dark is Rising fulfill the genre requirements of a fantasy novel?

Essay Topic 2

Explain why Hawkin's betrayal is justified or not justified. Does he receive proper justice in the end? Be sure to include some of his dialogue from the novel that supports your position.

Essay Topic 3

The Herne Hunt and the Wren are ancient legends that are incorporated into the Dark is Rising text. How are these two tales important to the overall plot?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,293 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample