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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. Who saved Conchobor and his son Cuscraid from the battlefield after they were defeated by King Eogan?

2. What is the name of Conchobor's sister?

3. What do Conchobor and his men hunt on their chariots?

4. Who do the poets of Ireland gather to meet?

5. In which land does Domnall originate?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the prophecy spoken of Derdriu?

2. What are the names of the two pig-keepers in the story and what unusual power do both have?

3. What is a warp spasm and how does it benefit Cuchulainn when he fights the neighborhood boys as a toddler?

4. How does Cuchulainn slow down the great army? What is unusual about his technique? How does the army adjust?

5. What does Fergus say about Cuchulainn's childhood?

6. Who makes up Medb and Ailill's great army?

7. What is unusual about Fedlimid's pregnant wife?

8. How did Cuchulainn get his name?

9. Discuss "woman's thinking" as the great army nears Ulster.

10. How do the scholars learn the tale of the Tain in its entirety?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of Fergus to the story? How might the novel have differed if he had not been introduced?

Essay Topic 2

What is the mood of a novel or literary work? What was the mood of this novel? Was it consistent throughout or did it vary? Define the term mood and use examples from the text to support your thoughts.

Essay Topic 3

What is the definition of main character? Name three main characters from The Tain and discuss the important role of each in the epic tale.

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