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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 the book of Gramayre send Will swimming through?

2. What are the names of the horses on Dawson's farm?

3. According to The Lady, each of the things of power is made by who?

4. What is used in the package to cushion the present?

5. What does Will tell Paul the signs around his belt are?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Will's time with the book of Gramayre feel like?

2. Why does Hawkin betray Merriman and the Light?

3. Why does Will feel torn during the Joining of the Signs section?

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

5. What significant acts occur during the late night of Christmas Day?

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

7. What does the Lady mean when she says, "'Break the power of the cold. Stop the snow and cold and frost. Release this country from the hold of the Dark. All with the next of the circle, the Sign of Fire'"?

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

9. What is unique about the book of Gramayre?

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,245 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample