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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 month does Mary release Elizabeth from prison in 1555?

2. Why is the Queen sent to bed by her physicians one evening during autumn, 1558?

3. What complicated Queen Mary's health in autumn, 1558?

4. What was missing from the court Christmas of 1555?

5. What is done to the Queen's quarters in spring of 1555?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Daniel tell Hannah when her father becomes seriously ill?

2. What disappoints Mary about the letters she receives from Philip?

3. What does Mrs. Carpenter confront Hannah about a couple of months after she and Daniel marry?

4. In what way is Philip's relationship with Elizabeth a political move?

5. What is Princess Elizabeth's closest maid to be found in possession of?

6. When Hannah returns to court, what state does she find the Queen in?

7. Who does Daniel believe Danny is when he is released from captivity?

8. Why do Hannah and Daniel look forward to Elizabeth's reign as queen?

9. When do Hannah and Daniel marry, and what sort of ceremonies do they have?

10. As she seeks safety, who does Hannah encounter on the street in the winter of 1557-1558?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of inaccuracies in the novel when one looks at how history actually happened. Why might Gregory have chosen to change a few of the elements of the story? Does this benefit the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the motif of power in the novel "The Queen's Fool". Who seeks power? Why do Mary and Elizabeth desire to become Queen? What do they want to do as Queen? To what lengths does Elizabeth go to achieve this goal? To what lengths does Mary go to keep her title? Who is Lady Jane Grey and how does she (and her supporters) try to takeover the throne?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the real historical figures which Gregory depicts in the novel. Who are they? Does Gregory depict these figures accurately? Does she change any elements of their lives to further the plot?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 761 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample