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 following phenomena did not signal the disappearance of the people and domestic animals of Dyfed?

2. What breed of bird did Branwen train to carry a message?

3. How many tales appear in THE MABINOGION?

4. What is unusual about the warriors brought back to life by the Cauldron of Rebirth?

5. How long was Llasar Llaes Gyfnewid's wife pregnant for?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Lleu Llaw Gyffes get his name?

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

4. Why does Efnisien mutilate the Irish horses?

5. How does Math react to the news that Goewin has been raped?

6. Why does Cigfa become so fearful after Rhiannon and Pryderi vanish?

7. What three tokens of manhood does Aranrhod refuse to give Lleu Llaw Gyffes?

8. What happens when the door facing Cornwall is opened?

9. Where did the Three Romances originate from before being written for the Mabinogion?

10. Where does Macsen Wledig fall asleep?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The motif of the magical food vessel seems to be an important one in Celtic mythology and in The Mabinogion. Choose three examples of these magical food vessels presented in the text and describe each in detail. Along with your description, explain the role that the vessel plays in the plot.

Essay Topic 2

Animals often seem to play a magical role in some of the tales of The Mabinogion. Choose three animals from the list below and describe some examples of how they are used the tales. Your answer should also state how the animals seem to affect the events of the plot. Choose from:

(a) pigs or boars

(b) mice

(c) horses

(d) birds

(e) deer

Essay Topic 3

Several of the tales in The Mabinogion seem to have the transition from boyhood to manhood as their theme. Choose two of the tales below and for each, describe the attributes that the main character must gain in order to prove that he is a man, and how he obtains these. Choose from:

(a) "Culhwch and Olwen"

(b) "Math son of Mathonwy"

(c) "Peredur son of Efrawg"

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 705 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample