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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. Derfel hopes that ____ in the Otherworld hears Gundleus' scream.

2. Nimue's life is spared by ____'s insistence.

3. Tanaburs claims that, if Derfel touches him, ____ will die.

4. Tewdric's Edling is____.

5. Cuneglas and Iorweth tell Arthur of _____'s mortal wound and are surprised that Arthur asks to apologize to the king for offending his house.

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what Queen Igraine thinks of Derfel's love for Ceinwyn and why Derfel takes offense to her opinion.

2. Define the relationship between Derfel and Tanaburs and how that relationship is resolved at the end of the book.

3. Explain what Arthur says tot he men before the battle, how the men react and what that says about Arthur's strength of character.

4. Explain the strange battle rituals and attitudes between the opposing forces.

5. Do you think that it was right for Derfel to kill Tanaburs?

6. Explain Gorfyddyd's promises about sparing everyone and about Mordred and how others react to them and what impact that could have on Arthur.

7. How does Derfel describe the battle of Lugg Vale?

8. Do you agree with Tewdric's reaction to the battle?

9. Describe everyone's arrival in Dumnonia after Merlin reveals himself.

10. Explain what Arthur's reaction is when Gorfyddyd is mortally wounded and whether or not you agree with that reaction.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A big problem in the book is the conflict between the Pagan and Christian religions.

Part 1: Explain the differences between the two religions, based on what you learned in the book. Use at least three specific examples from the book to back up your answer.

Part 2: List at least three Pagan characters and at least three Christian characters in the book, besides Derfel, who are at different points.

Part 3: Why do you feel that, in modern times, people of different religions can coexist peacefully, but they couldn't in Arthur's times?

Essay Topic 2

Choose any three of the following six options and write about how they influenced the story, using one example from the beginning, one from the middle and one from the end to explain each response.

1. Love

2. Power

3. Honor

4. Betrayal

5. Greed

6. Religion

Essay Topic 3

The female characters in the story, such as Ceinwyn, are often used as pawns in a bid to win power or unite kingdoms. Write a detailed essay describing two times where that occurred in the novel and also describing how you feel about the women being used in such a way. Would you have done something differently, if you were in charge of the situation? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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