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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. How does Cuchulainn finally end the fight between him and his foster-brother in Chapter XI?

2. Who is Cuchulainn's mortal father?

3. Who is angered that Finnabair spends a night with a man?

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

5. Which river in Section VI swells and carries off one-hundred chariots?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why doesn't Cuchulainn kill Fergus whenever the army is nearing Ulster?

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

4. Specifically describe Cuchulainn's warp-spasm when he is older.

5. What causes Cuchulainn's massive killings to stop as Ailill and Medb's army approach?

6. How is it that Loch almost defeats Cuchulainn?

7. What causes King Ailill's daughter Finnabair to fall dead?

8. 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?

9. Chapter XIII contains a long list of great warriors as described by two people. Who are the people and what differs about their descriptions of the great warriors?

10. Why does Fergus fear a mere boy warrior, Erc?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

There are four points-of-view in which literature is written: first-person, third-person objective, third-person limited, and omniscient. Which point-of-view is used in this book? Is this the most effective point-of-view for this story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the protagonist in The Tain. Discuss the antagonist. Is there ever a time in the novel when it seems like they have reversed roles? Use the definition for the terms in your response.

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