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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. Because the prince has gone south and the sheriff and bailiff are tending to business while he is gone, what won't they have time to do?

2. What does Brother Cadfael realize when Prior Robert tries to bribe Rhisiart to get him to approve his proposal?

3. What is Father Huw's job in Gwytherin?

4. How does Engelard become a suspect in Rhisiart's murder?

5. Where do Brother Jerome and Brother Columbanus sleep on the night they arrive in Gwytherin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Rhisiart and the townspeople believe about Prior Robert's proposal and how does Prior Robert respond?

2. After Prior Robert discusses acquiring a relic, how do the monks care for Brother Columbanus when he has an episode of "falling sickness"?

3. How does Brother Jerome's dream about St. Winifred affect Prior Robert?

4. How does Prior Robert attempt to get Rhisiart to agree to his proposal during the private discussion away from the public meeting?

5. Contrast Brother Cadfael's approach to dealing with the townspeople with Prior Robert's approach to dealing with the townspeople.

6. How does Sioned defy her culture's female stereotype at the scene of Rhisiart's murder?

7. What do we learn about Brother Cadfael from his response to Rhisiart's murder?

8. How do Rhisiart and Sioned treat each other, especially regarding marriage?

9. After Prior Robert hears Father Huw's news from the meeting with the heads of the parish, what does he do?

10. Explain the warning that Padrig gives to Brother Cadfael and Brother John regarding the meeting about Prior Robert's proposal.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In A Morbid Taste for Bones: A Mediaeval Whodunnit, we learn a great deal about Brother Cadfael. 1) List four adjectives that describe Brother Cadfael's personality. Include an example from the story to explain each adjective. 2) What is a value or belief Brother Cadfael has? 3) How does he act on this value or belief? 4) How does Brother Cadfael change as the book progresses? 5) What causes him to change?

Essay Topic 2

Irony is when what happens is different from what is expected to happen; for example, a ski trip is canceled because of a snowstorm, or a firehouse catches fire. Describe the ironic situation involving the events that occur at St. Winifred's actual resting place in Gwytherin and the events that occur at the place where Prior Robert thinks she is buried, in Shrewsbury. Do you think the author intentionally had irony in mind when he included this situation? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Brother Cadfael needs to use quite a bit of reasoning to solve the mystery of Rhisiart's death. Explain the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning. Which did Brother Cadfael use more frequently, inductive or deductive reasoning? In which situations did he use this form of reasoning? As you formulate your answer, think of these terms: clues, inference, logic, and evidence.

(see the answer keys)

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