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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. For what might Woodcarver be ready?

2. What does Woodcarver want to learn?

3. What do the wolf-like figures do?

4. With what does the narrator say the humans are playing?

5. What does one Post on the net dub the Helper?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Scriber depressed?

2. What are Blueshell and Greenstalk ordered to do and what do they fear?

3. What lessens the size of Woodcarver's army even before any confrontation with Lord Steel's forces.

4. What does Ravna learn when she visits Greenstalk and Blueshell in their quarters?

5. How are Peregrine and Scriber received in the Woodcarver's Domain and what happens to Johanna when she arrives with them?

6. How does Greenstalk create havoc with Pham's trust of the two Riders?

7. What the Arbitration Arts Corporation communicate in various posts about a new Power?

8. Describe Ravna Bergsndot.

9. Explain what the material in OOB's library says about the origins of Riders.

10. What do Pham and Ravna think is behind the ambush by the Riders at Saint Rihndell's Repair Harbor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Johanna has been quite hostile at the beginning of her captivity, so the Queen orders her lodged next to her, where she can treat her wound and befriend her as a first step to studying her. Discuss the following:

1. How is the above situation with what the Queen does similar to the saying, "You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

2. Do you think the Queen's friendship and kindnesses produce positive results with Johanna? Why or why not?

3. Do you think in the "real" world befriending prisoners of war would actually be more useful than treating them cruelly? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action-driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character-driven or action-driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character-driven versus action-driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not?

5. What type of plot do you think A Fire Upon the Deep is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of A Fire upon the Deep, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur such as exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement. Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements. Subplots may not contain every element of a major plot. Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not? Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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