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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. Ceinwyn blushes, seeing that ____ still wears her brooch.

2. Cuneglas is embarrassed by his father's descriptions of what he will do to Arthur and lurid claims about Guinevere's ____.

3. From a local ____ , they learn of a second ford to the north that could cause problems.

4. Arthur proposes attacking at the enemy's strongest place, which is Lugg ____.

5. Since Tanaburs is killed, he is said to go to the ____.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Explain how Arthur feels in this section of the book.

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

5. Although the book seems, originally, to be about Arthur, who is the book really about and why?

6. Arthur feels that the war is his fault. Do you agree with that assessment? Why or why not?

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

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

9. Who is Malldynn and what lesson can be learned from Derfel's encounter with Malldynn.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel teaches many life lessons. Choose any two lessons that you learned from the novel and explain where in the novel those lessons are taught, as well as what you learned from them or what point you feel the author was trying to get across with them.

Essay Topic 2

Tristan brings to light the topic of standing up for what we think is right, despite what others, especially parents or elders, think.

Part 1: Do you think that Tristan was right to defy his father? Why or why not?

Part 2: What could the consequences be for Tristan's actions and what might the consequences have been for not following his instincts?

Part 3: List 3 present-day situations where it might be necessary to follow one's own instincts, despite what parents or elders might say.

Essay Topic 3

Love versus honor is a key theme in the novel. For example, Arthur promised to marry Ceinwyn and then did a dishonorable thing by eloping with Guinevere, but he did so because he was following his heart.

Part 1: Do you feel that Arthur was right to marry Guinevere? Why or why not?

Part 2: Why do you think that Derfel agreed with Arthur's decision to marry Guinevere when most people viewed it as dishonorable?

Part 3: Is there another way in which Arthur could have married Guinevere and still kept peace with Gorfyddyd? What could he have tried, rather than eloping?

(see the answer keys)

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