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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 disease afflicts the king of Crete?

2. How did Theseus ruin the symbol by retrieving the item?

3. Why are Theseus and the bull dancers smuggling things?

4. What does Theseus learn about the king's son from the other bull dancers?

5. What happens to the bull after the dance?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what Theseus learns about the customs and prophesies of the Creates.

2. Define the relationship between Theseus and the cranes.

3. Describe how Theseus is hurt during a bull dance.

4. Evaluate Theseus' feelings after taking the king's life.

5. Explain what the old woman in Aigeus' kingdom says to Theseus.

6. Describe the House of the Axe and how Theseus feels about being there.

7. Recall what Theseus learns about bull dancing while traveling to Crete.

8. Explain what Theseus learns about Asterion's true identity.

9. Describe bull dancing, concentrating on the different roles of each dancer.

10. Describe what Theseus and the cranes do to cause a scene when they arrive at Crete.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The gods are an essential component in The King Must Die in great and small ways.

Part 1) What are some examples from the text that show Theseus' devotion to his deity? How do his beliefs differ from the other characters?

Part 2) How can straying away from the gods be seen as forgetting what is important in life? What do the gods represent to the people (like in Eleusis and Troizen)?

Part 3) Crete is destroyed by an earthquake. Can this be seen as the god's wrath against a city that doesn't believe anymore? Is Theseus successful in life because of his strong beliefs?

Essay Topic 2

In Eleusis Queen Persephone rules, and the people care nothing for the king. Queen Persephone is very intelligent and powerful.

Part 1) Describe what kind of leader the queen is. What are her beliefs, strengths and weaknesses?

Part 2) Describe how Queen Persephone's character changes throughout the story; cite examples from the text.

Part 3) Explain how Queen Persephone is important to the overall story and how she has affected Theseus' life; cite examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Moira is an important symbol throughout The King Must Die. Theseus his dedicated to his belief of moira.

Part 1) Define moira, citing examples from the text where it's described.

Part 2) Explain how Theseus' belief in moira gives him freedom and how it hinders him.

Part 3) Describe how Theseus' belief in moira changes throughout the novel. Is he as passionate in the end of the novel as he is in the beginning?

(see the answer keys)

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