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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. Gundleus, having paid the bride-price, accepts ____.

2. As Gundleus greets his wife, he plunges his sword into her and stabs the ____.

3. ____ swears to kill Gundleus if he is released for political reasons.

4. The Franks call the defenders forest ____.

5. As the war goes well, Gundleus comes to take Mordred to Caer Cadarn for acclamation as ____.

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain how Arthur winds up killing Owain.

2. Explain why Uther holds the first High Council in Britain in sixty years.

3. Why does Derfel understand, and even respect, Arthur's plan to elope?

4. Explain why Arthur plans to marry Ceinwyn and whether or not you agree with that decision.

5. How does Mordred escape death at Gundleus' hands?

6. Explaina Arthur's role in Dumnonia as he prepares to leave to winter in Corinium.

7. Explain the High Council's attitude toward what is going on with Arthur and Mordred as they hold their meeting.

8. How does Uther react to Arthur's name being brought up at the council meeting, in terms of being Uther's successor?

9. Describe the baby that is born at the start of the novel.

10. Describe the opening of the novel.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses the technique of foreshadowing at several points in the story.

Part 1: Define foreshadowing.

Part 2: Explain, in detail, two examples of how foreshadowing was used in the story.

Part 3: Do you feel that the two examples of foreshadowing that you listed were useful in the story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

War is a huge part of the book. Answer the following questions about war in general.

1. What are two reasons that you think the war in the book took place?

2. What are two reasons that wars are started in modern times?

3. Are the reasons for war in Arthur's time still used to start wars today? Why or why not?

4. Do you feel that wars ever actually accomplish anything? In other words, are some wars justifiable, or do all of them just lead to more trouble?

Essay Topic 3

One of the major themes of the book is religion.

Part 1: Explain how religion fuels war in the novel.

Part 2: Choose any time in the character when religious lines seem blurred and describe it.

Part 3: Derfel goes through a religious transformation, as the story progresses. Describe what religion he starts out a member of, what religion he winds up a member of and why you feel that transformation took place. Do you feel that it was a good transformation? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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