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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. Who does Mat pretend to kiss when a Seanchan soldier enters the kitchen?

2. What do the Seanchan leave in Ebou Dar when many of their ships leave?

3. What does the army's commander say to Elayne's proposal?

4. What does Mat do with the outfit he wears for Tylin?

5. Where do Elayne and Egwene go in the dream world?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does a Seeker of Truth want with Bethamin?

2. How is Mat preparing to leave the palace without Tylin noticing?

3. What important work do Rand and Nynaeve accomplish with the Choedan Kal?

4. What does Mat remember to check on for the fireworks maker and what does he learn?

5. What do Cadsuane and her party examine inside the Hall of Counsels?

6. Where is Tylin going when Mat rides with her to the city gates?

7. What upsets Barsalla about the source-blocking device when he is meeting with Cadsuane?

8. Where is Rand after the assassination attempt and how is he rescued?

9. What decisions does Elayne have to make with advice of Norry?

10. Why does Cadsuane slap Rand?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation that the Seanchan who leash and control the damane can actually channel also. What other irony can you find in "Winter's Heart"? Do you think irony enhances the book? Why?

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from "Winter's Heart". What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in "Winter's Heart" and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why? Some possible devices are allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

Essay Topic 2

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or ideas that are not a part of the "real" world. In the case of "Winter's Heart", much of the setting may seem familiar to the reader (i.e. there are woods, mountains, rivers, oceans, etc.), though there are new ideas and terms to learn.

Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of "Winter's Heart" that occur in the "real" world but are used differently in "Winter's Heart".

2. Define the words as used in in "Winter's Heart"'s world and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of "Winter's Heart". Did you have to look up any words? What does it mean to learn a word through its context? Do you have to do that in "Winter's Heart"? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from "Winter's Heart"? Which ones?

Essay Topic 3

The word "ta'veren" is used frequently in "Winter's Heart" and in all the other books in Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Discuss the following: Explain the concept of ta'veren and give examples of it to illustrate your explanation. Do you think Jordan uses instances of ta'veren as a narrative contrivance? Why? Give examples to support your stance. How do you think the concept of ta'veren adds to the complexity of the novel? Explain using examples.

(see the answer keys)

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