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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 warning does Merriman tell Will after their first meeting?

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

3. What is the ancient kind of symbol dating back to sun worship?

4. Why doesn't Will go near the family's two dogs?

5. What impulsive comment does Will shout out to the bus conductor as he gets off the bus two days after his birthday?

Short Essay Questions

1. What ordinary Christmas decoration does Mr. Dawson persuade the Stantons to take with them?

2. How does Will try to warn Old George Dawson about Maggie being an agent of the Dark?

3. What are the parallels between the Rider's black stallion and the white mare that Will commands?

4. What is the importance of the white mare appearing to Will in the woods?

5. What are the end results of Will's actions at the manor?

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

7. How does the author demonstrate that something strange is happening to Will?

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

9. Why does Will's father state, "There's your ceremony, Will. Right on time"?

10. How does the animals' behavior foreshadow what happens to the tramp in the woods?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Will embody the hero archetype in the fantasy novel, The Dark is Rising?

Essay Topic 2

Explain how the Book of Gramayre teaches Will what he needs to know, and how this book acts in concert with other events that have occurred during Will's experiences with the Old Ones.

Essay Topic 3

Why is the act of catching someone out of time symbolic of being out of the loop or being frozen, suspended in time? Why is this power useful to Will and the Old Ones?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,326 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample