View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the tales should correctly be called "The Mabinogion"?

2. Who translated THE MABINOGION?

3. Which tale is the earliest contained in THE MABINOGION?

4. Who is the first person to try to rescue Pryderi from the caer?

5. Who tells Math that Goewin is no longer a virgin?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Llwyd use his magic to bring harm to Pryderi and his family?

2. How does Lleu Llaw Gyffes get his name?

3. What do the Irish hide within the hall built for Bendigeidfran and why?

4. How were these tales originally presented to an audience?

5. Why does Elen command the roads to be built throughout Britain?

6. Why does Pryderi arrange for his widowed mother to marry Manawydan?

7. How do Math and Gwydion find Lleu Llaw Gyffes after Gronwr shoots him?

8. Why does Efnisien mutilate the Irish horses?

9. How do Bendigeidfran and his brothers know that the Irish ships are coming in peace?

10. Why do the four have to leave the towns in Lloegyr they try to settle in?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the narrative style of the tales in The Mabinogion differ from modern narrative styles? Choose at least two examples of narrative and analyse their style, including aspects such as vocabulary, level of detail and use of sensory imagery, comparing these to a modern passage of narrative of your choice. One of the passages you choose from The Mabinogion should be from the later tales (the three romances, The Dream of Macsen Wledig and The Dream of Rhonabwy) and should be from the earlier oral tales.

Essay Topic 2

Choose two of the women who play a significant role in the tales, and compare and contrast their characters. Which of the two is the stronger heroine? Chose from:

(a) Elen of the Hosts (in "The Dream of Macsen Wledig")

(b) Enid (in "Gereint son of Erbin")

(c) Branwen (from "Branwen daughter of Llyr")

(d) Rhiannon (from "Pwyll Prince of Dyfed and "Manawydan son of Llyr")

(e) Aranrhod (from "Math son of Mathonwy")

Essay Topic 3

"The Dream of Rhonabwy" contains a contrast between Arthurian days and "modern life" (from the perspective of the author, i.e. Medieval life). Describe and evaluate this contrast. Your answer should be structured as follows:

(1) Describe the Arthurian setting in the tale

(2) Describe the "real world' in the tale

(3) Decide which setting is more exaggerated and what you believe the author was attempting to say through the contrast.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 732 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample