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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 is the source of Covenant's magic?

2. What does Trell do when he loses himself for a moment?

3. Who is Trell?

4. What has been taken over by the ravers?

5. What does the interpreter say about Covenant's dreams?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Covenant when Chapter 3 opens and what does he learn?

2. Who is Hile Troy and what should he be able to be proof of to Covenant?

3. What does Hile Troy think of the Land?

4. What does Elena tell Amok and what does Amok respond and then do?

5. What does Amok tell Covenant and the Lords Council?

6. What is Covenant's response to being back in the land and why can't the people do as he asks?

7. What does Lord Hyrim explain to Covenant when Hyrim wakes Covenant?

8. What do Covenant and Lord Mhoram discuss?

9. Why are Covenant's dreams important?

10. Who comes in from Ra and what news does the person bring?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The Illearth War is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Stephen R. Donaldson.

2. What in Donaldson's background may have helped him in writing The Illearth War? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

The Illearth War belongs to the fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the fantasy genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a fantasy and a historical novel mystery?

(see the answer keys)

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