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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. Where does Margaret have her first marriage ceremony to James?

2. What kind of wedding do Angus and Margaret have?

3. Who is John Stuart?

4. Who helps Margaret make plans to flee the country with her children?

5. What is Anne's health like when she is first introduced in the novel?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In "The Curse of Sauchieburn," why does Margaret try to intervene with James when several Scottish men are arrested in England?

3. How does Margaret react to the death of her mother?

4. Why is Margaret opposed to James bringing in his illegitimate children to the castle?

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

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

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

8. What does Margaret have James do for Albany upon his arrival to Scotland?

9. What reasons does Margaret convey in a letter as to why Henry should not attack Scotland shortly after James dies in battle?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Parents, such as Henry's and Margaret's and even James's, are presented as complicated characters in "The Thistle and the Rose." Discuss how parents are portrayed in "The Thistle and the Rose" as well as what message Plaidy is trying to convey to the reader about the power and influence of parents over the main characters in the text.

Essay Topic 2

Chose one child character from "The Thistle and the Rose" and discuss three ways that this specific child influences the story. Make sure to use direct evidence from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze one father/son relationship in "The Thistle and the Rose." Is it a positive relationship? A negative one? What does the reader learn about each character through their relationship with each other? What function does the relationship serve in the novel?

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