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. Why does Margaret lie in her letter to Henry, saying the birth of her next child is imminent?

2. On what date does Albany arrive in England (after Margaret has married Angus)?

3. Who is Angus in love with when Bell-the-Cat dies?

4. Who becomes the King of Scotland when James dies?

5. Why must Margaret leave Scotland without her children?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the political establishment not think Margaret is able to rule until young James comes of age?

2. What happens with the transition of power after James is killed in battle?

3. Why is Margaret secretly pleased after her first-born son dies?

4. Why does James think it's a perfectly fine idea to bring his illegitimate children to the castle to live?

5. How does James react to learning that Janet Kennedy has a lover 25 years her senior?

6. Who is Margaret and James's child Arthur named after?

7. How does James react to the death of Margaret's palfreys?

8. What does Bell-the-Cat tell Angus on his deathbed?

9. How does Henry approach his future kingship when he is young?

10. Why are some people upset about how quickly Margaret married Angus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several battles play a key role in "The Thistle and the Rose." Discuss at least three challenges an author faces when writing battle scenes and at least three literary devices Plaidy uses when writing about battle in "The Thistle and the Rose," using examples from the text as supporting evidence.

Essay Topic 2

Choose the point when Margaret finally becomes her own person in the novel and discuss when this moment is, how the reader knows this transformation has taken place, and at least two literary devices Plaidy uses to convey to the reader that such a transformation has occurred.

Essay Topic 3

Several of Margaret's children die in the novel. Discuss the effect this has on the reader, how these deaths have an influence on the sequence of events, and how these deaths influence Margaret as both a person and a ruler.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 762 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample