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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. In Chapter 13, what does Kreutz put in the middle of the room?

2. What does the king learn about Ivan the Great?

3. When Pan Andrew arrives home after the explosions, what does he find?

4. Which two people get in a scuffle in Pan Andrew's apartment after the explosions in the Charnetski apartment?

5. Where does Pan Andrew think his treasure is once he discovers it missing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what happens after Kreutz grabs the crystal from the king's hands.

2. When Elzbietka hears the Heynal played in its entirety as described in Chapter 12, where is she and what does she do?

3. In Chapter 10, what happens on the rickety stairway that leads to the Charnetski family apartment?

4. What does Peter of the Button Face say to the king regarding why he is in Krakow in Chapter 15?

5. What is the threat Peter of the Button Face gives to Joseph before Michael the Snake takes Joseph from the tower in Chapter 11?

6. What does Peter of the Button Face do to break into the tower in Chapter 11?

7. What is the ancient legend of Krakus?

8. Describe how the people of Krakow put out fires in general and in Chapter 14.

9. What is Kreutz's explanation to Tring for how he obtained the crystal?

10. Describe the chief glory of the city of Krakow as it is explained in the Epilogue.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the conflict between superstition and science in the novel. Do you think this was an important issue to the author? What is he trying to portray by returning to this conflict? Does the conflict seem relevant to the main theme of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Why do you think the author used both fictional and non-fictional characters in the novel? Do you think it is confusing to combine true and made up characters? If you were tasked with writing a historical fiction novel, would you do it the same way that this author did? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The author emphasizes the importance of tradition in the lives of the Polish and Ukrainian people. Why do you think the author emphasized tradition in the novel? Was he just accurately describing the priorities of Polish people, or are there elements of symbolism apparent?

(see the answer keys)

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