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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. Who is guarding the gateway?

2. What is one thing that Elayne confesses?

3. Who are the letters addressed to that Moiraine hands to Rand?

4. What does Mat try to convince himself to do?

5. What does Moiraine have to do quickly?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Nynaeve and Galad talk about?

2. How does Mat end up killing Couladin?

3. What does Davram Bashere want and what is Rand's response?

4. Who is Masema and why does Uno take Nynaeve to see him?

5. How does Brigitte come to be Elayne's warder?

6. How does Brigitte come out of Tel'Aran'Rhiod into the physical world?

7. What does Min share with Elayne about Rand from one of Min's visions that involves Min and Elayne? What is Elayne's response?

8. How does Nynaeve learn that Uno is still alive and in the same town as they are?

9. How is Rand received in Cairhien?

10. How does Mat help in the planning of the battle against the Shaido and what are Rand and Lan's reactions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

THE FIRES OF HEAVEN belongs to the literary genre of fantasy fiction. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly define the term genre and offer examples of it from your own reading experience. Why do you think it is useful to categorize fiction into genres? What could be a disadvantage of doing so?

2. What do you think is the main motivation for a person to read a fantasy novel? Is entertainment a good enough reason? Are there any other reasons to read this genre? What? Explain fully.

3. In "academe," fantasy novels are often thought of as less literary than some other genres and for that reason are sometimes "snubbed" in the study of literature. Why do you think this is so? Do you agree with this "snobbery"?

Essay Topic 2

Symbols are an important part of the story of THE FIRES OF HEAVEN. Some of the symbols carry over from other books in the series. Discuss one of the following:

1. One of the most important symbols of the entire Wheel of Time series is that of the Dragon. Discuss and analyze using specific examples the symbol of the dragon.

2. One of the characters, Min Farseer, sees symbols circling the heads of many of the characters. Discuss the symbols Min sees circling the heads of three of the characters.

3. There are a number of symbols associated with the presence of good and evil. Discuss these and their meanings.

Essay Topic 3

The concept of honor is important to many of the cultures and characters in Jordan's Wheel of Time series. One people, the Aiel, have a very complicated system based on honor, the violation of which entails "toh." Discuss the following:

Describe the Aiel system of honor and the concept of ji'e'toh.

Besides the Aiel, who else in Shadow Rising values his/her honor? Why? Give examples.

Why do you think honor is such an important concept in THE FIRES OF HEAVEN? The Whitecloaks often violate their honor when they should value it greatly. How do they violate the concept of honor? Give examples and discuss fully.

(see the answer keys)

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