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. What does Jonathan decide to do with his life now that he is sixteen years old?

2. How does the master builder of William's church find masons to hire?

3. What does Aliena tell Jack she is going to do after ten years of living apart?

4. What is Jack's punishment for talking to Aliena unsupervised?

5. Where does Jack first talk to Aliena about literature?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Prior Philip's response to William Hamleigh when he arrives in Kingsbridge with his soldiers.

2. What are the consequences for Prior Philip when Maud's men defeat King Stephen?

3. What does William Hamleigh decide to do in order to increase the wealth of Shiring when he takes control after his father's death?

4. What does Waleran tell William he should do in order to earn more money for the earldom?

5. Why does Alfred come to see Jack after 10 years with no communication?

6. Why does Richard decide to join the Christian crusades fighting in the Holy Land?

7. What does Aliena teach Elizabeth when they meet each other when seeking shelter from a storm?

8. Summarize the first meeting between Jack and Aliena when Jack finds her reading in the woods.

9. How is William's mismanagement of Shiring evident throughout the countryside?

10. What are the aftereffects of William's attack on Kingsbridge on the citizens of the town?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

1) Evaluate the elements of cause and effect in this story using examples from the novel.

2) Choose three events and characters from the story which cause their lives to undergo a change.

3) How do the characters react to the events and their effects?

4) How do they change emotionally, financially, and spiritually because of these events?

Essay Topic 2

1) Imagine you are an historian reading Pillars of the Earth. Would you see the story as historically accurate?

2) Use details from the story to support your answer.

3) What plot or setting descriptions would you change to make it more historically accurate?

4) Are the historical figures, such as King Henry and Thomas Beckett, depicted accurately? Support the answer with examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

1) Compare and contrast the characters of Richard and William Hamleigh.

2) Summarize the impact each character has on one another.

3) How is each character realistic in their struggles to attain the earldom?

4) Is Richard or William more effective in their methods of requiring Shiring?

5) Cite examples from the novel to support the answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 802 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample