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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. Which country do these tales originate in?

2. What was the original name for this collection of tales?

3. What color hair does the maiden have when Macsen sees her in the dream?

4. How fast is Rhiannon's horse travelling when the messengers pursue her?

5. In total, how many years do the survivors spend in feasting before they bury the head?

Short Essay Questions

1. What action of Pwyll's during his year in the Otherworld impresses Arawn as an example of virtue?

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

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

4. What role does Macsen Wledig play in the reconquest of Rome?

5. Was the name "The Mabinogion" originally given to this collection of tales?

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

7. Where does Macsen Wledig fall asleep?

8. Why, according to the tale, do the warriors of Cynan decide to cut out the tongues of the women?

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

10. Why does Teyrnon decide to take Gwri to the court of Pwyll?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hunting seems to be an important plot element in many of the tales in The Mabinogion. Eexplain the role that hunts and hunting play in the plots of the following tales:

(a) Pwyll Prince of Dyfed

(b) Culhwch and Olwen

(c) The Dream of Macsen Wledig

Essay Topic 2

The Mabinogion contains numerous examples of onomastic tales. Choose three places from the list below and for each, explain the following:

(1) How, according to the tale they appear in, the place earned its name

(2) How important the incident is in the plot of the tale in which it appears.

Choose from:

(a) Talebolion (Branwen daughter of Llyr)

(b) Llydaw (The Dream of Macsen Wledig)

(c) Caer Fyrddin (The Dream of Macsen Wledig)

(d) Creuwyron (Math son of Mathonwy)

(e) Caer Llud (Llud and Llefelys)

Essay Topic 3

Many claim that Celtic society assigned a high status to women. Bearing in mind that The Mabinogion is considered to be a very important collection of Celtic legend, do the tales in The Mabinogion support this view? Use examples from at least three tales to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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