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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 do Theseus and his friend find on the side of the road?

2. Why does Theseus' mother need to give herself to the first man that is sent by the gods?

3. Who does Theseus find to leave his sword?

4. After a quarrel, what does Theseus offer to do for the queen?

5. As Theseus heads back to his people, what does he discover the queen ordered?

Short Essay Questions

1. Define the relationship between Theseus and Xanthos.

2. Explain the importance of Theseus' dream after a harper comes to the palace.

3. Describe how Xanthos tries to undermine Theseus after the first battle.

4. Compare two events where Theseus is somewhat harsh in his mannerisms.

5. Explain Theseus' plan to get out of the kingdom without shaming his name.

6. Describe two different ways Persephone tries to have Theseus killed.

7. Evaluate how Theseus feels about women, giving two examples.

8. Explain why Theseus becomes angry with his mother after she tells him to lift the stone.

9. Explain why the true identity of Theseus' lineage was hidden.

10. Describe one of the customs that is performed in Eleusis every year.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rituals are prominent throughout The King Must Die. They are an indicator of the differences and similarities between the cultures. Compare and contrast the different rituals throughout the book. How are they the same? How are they different? How does Theseus feel about the different rituals he encounters throughout his travels? Include several examples from the book. Compare and contrast the rituals in the book to rituals that we have in society today.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout The King Must Die the theme of belief is prominent. It is the beliefs that the characters, mainly Theseus, have that bring meaning to their lives. What types of beliefs do Theseus possess? Explain how Theseus' beliefs affect the decisions that he makes in his life, citing examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Theseus' character travels through many areas of ancient Greece, from Troizen to Eleusis to Athens to Crete. The setting of The King Must Die is very important to the story.

Part 1) Define setting, describing the different settings throughout the text.

Part 2) Explain how important the setting is to the plot of the story.

Part 3) Compare the setting of this novel to another novel. Was the setting simple or complex?

(see the answer keys)

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