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 happened to Kelenli after Syl Anagist fell?

2. What does the Earth do to mark its peace treaty with humanity?

3. What route will Castrima take to cross the desert?

4. Why must the people of Castrima cross the desert as quickly as possible?

5. Who is lost on Essun's trip to Corepoint?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Kelenli describe the relationship between the tuners and the Niess when she explains the history of the Niess to the tuners?

2. What does Lerna notice about Essun once everyone is settled in Rennanis?

3. What happens to the tuners on their way to Kelenli’s home during their second lesson?

4. What does Hoa reveal to Essun about Alabaster during their nighttime meeting in Rennanis?

5. At the end of the novel, what does the stone eater reborn from Essun say she wants?

6. Why did Houwha believe that the other Conductors disrespected Gallat?

7. What people are living in Corepoint when Nassun arrives?

8. How does Steel explain Schaffa's longevity compared to other Guardians?

9. What does the Earth do after it agrees to peace with humanity?

10. How are Kelenli and Gallat related?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jemisin describes a society where characters must depend on each other daily to survive. Write an essay examining the role interdependence plays in the novel. Provide a working definition of interdependence and analyze how it both creates and resolves conflict between characters.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining the importance of fragmentation in the novel’s narrative structure. Why does Hoa shift so much between eras and points of view? How does the fragmentation of the narrative reflect the fragmentation between the characters? How does this fragmentation shape our understanding of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Like our protagonists, Father Earth has known exploitation and loss. Explain how Jemisin uses Father Earth as a foil to Nassun, Essun or Hoa. What makes Father Earth an antagonist? What leads him to change his ways? How does his character arc compare to the protagonist’s?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 588 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample