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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 do the king and queen believe to be their final solution in killing Cuchulainn?

2. How many versions of how the army arrives in a new community are told in Section VI?

3. What does Cuchulainn drink that unwittingly heals an old woman?

4. Who accompanied Fergus to offer Ailill's truce offer to Cuchulainn?

5. What is the name of Medb's herdsman killed in Section VI?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Medb and Ailill get Fergus drunk and send him to fight Cuchulainn, why doesn't Cuchulainn kill him?

2. Why does Ailill enlist the help of a spy and what does the spy report back to Ailill?

3. Who saves Cuchulainn's life as he faces a man and his 27 sons?

4. Why does Cuchulainn strut around the day after his bloody, warp-spasm induced battle?

5. How does Fergus lose his sword? What does he do without it?

6. Why does Cuchulainn refuse to leave Ferdia's corpse?

7. What is Cuchulainn's unusual connection with the gods? How does his god-like father help him heal as the great army gets closer to Ulster?

8. How many healers tell Cethern he is beyond help? Who is the royal healer that finally agrees to help him?

9. How does the army attempt to move Donn Cuailnge from Black Cauldron to Conaille?

10. Why does Ailill mock Fergus after he loses his sword? In what other way does Ailill mock Fergus and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify and discuss five points of foreshadowing from the novel. Did the author use foreshadowing effectively? Why or why not? Define foreshadowing in your essay as well.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the importance of loyalty as a motif in this novel. Be sure to define motif in your response.

Essay Topic 3

Define rising action as an element of plot. Discuss in detail the rising action in The Tain. How does the author present it? How does the rising action flow? How does the rising action add to the suspense of the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 825 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample