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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 colour is Gereint's hair?

2. What does Gereint do to challenge the knight in the mist to fight?

3. What is the name of Arthur's bishop?

4. How many times is Peredur able to mend the sword after cutting through the column?

5. Which of the following well-known Arthurian characters is not invoked by Culhwch when he asks his boon from Arthur?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Llefelys travel to France?

2. Why does Peredur's mother raise him in seclusion?

3. Where does Culhwch first see Olwen?

4. Why does the author of "The Dream of Rhonabwy" say that nobody can remember the tale without a book?

5. What are the three plagues that strike Llud's kingdom?

6. Why does Cynon first approach the Hideous Herdsman?

7. How is Owein healed after his madness?

8. What does the empress give to Peredur that helps him kill the Addanc?

9. How do Cei and Gwrhyr find Mabon Son of Modron?

10. Why does Gereint decide to follow the knight and the dwarf?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the earlier oral tales differ from the later romances? Your answer could consider features such as narrative style, setting and plot, as well as other features. Use at least two romances and two oral tales as examples to support your answer.

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

The Mabinogion often sets the plot events in places that the listeners would have been familiar with. Choose three of the real-world places below and for each, state which tale or tales that the place is mentioned in and the most significant events to take place there. Choose from:

(a) Caer Llion

(b) London

(c) Ireland

(d) Dyfed

(e) Cornwall

(see the answer keys)

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