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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 is the name of the woman who Culhwch was destined to take as wife?

2. What relation is Culhwch to Arthur?

3. Which of the following animals does Cynon not mention when he describes the Hideous Herdsman?

4. What is unusual about the dwarfs who speak the praise of Peredur (apart from their lack of height)?

5. What day of the week is it when the messenger brings news of the white stag?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Cynon first approach the Hideous Herdsman?

2. Where does Culhwch first see Olwen?

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

4. Why does Glewlwyd Mighty-Grasp recommend that Culhwch should be admitted to Arthur's court?

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

6. How does Llud deal with the plague of the scream?

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

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

9. Where do Owein and Arthur play their games of gwyddbwyll?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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