View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What rings the Great Park, according to Merriman?

2. Outside the manor, which sign is burned into Will's forearm and causes the Rider to fall back?

3. According to George, the big oak in Great Park is called what?

4. What is the term used to rally the hounds on the full chase?

5. What causes Will to realize the flood has come to his home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Will learn about the snow and its links to the Dark?

2. What is strange about the gift Stephen sent to Will for Christmas?

3. What is the importance of Will taking the white horse to the Hunter?

4. Why is the rain significant to the villagers and to Will?

5. Why is Hawkin amazed that the Rider has dropped him?

6. What is unique about the book of Gramayre?

7. Why does Hawkin betray Merriman and the Light?

8. How does Hawkin trick Will to allow the Dark into the manor?

9. What is the importance of the Walker's whereabouts being revealed to Will by a rook--an animal of the Dark?

10. What purpose does the Walker's visit to the Stanton home serve to the overall plot of the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the process by which the Book of Gramayre is protected and what effect this has on Hawkin.

Essay Topic 2

What is the significance of the use of musical references throughout the book?

Essay Topic 3

Merriman is an Old One like Will, but is far wiser due to his tenure as an Old One. In what ways does Merriman fulfill his archetype of the teacher in The Dark is Rising?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,183 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample