View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How had the man from the mountains helped the village in the past?

2. Where does Hardic have his roots?

3. Who does Ogion say the girl's mother is?

4. What kind of people occupy Torning?

5. Why does Ged repeat the dragon's name?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is it significant that the shadow appears immediately after Ged has tried to help the dying child?

2. Do you think Duny's Aunt initially sets out to use him?

3. What part has tradition, ancient artifacts, and ancient languages played in the story so far?

4. Why do you think Ged opts to take a position in Gorning?

5. How is pride proving Ged's biggest obstacle?

6. Why do you think it is important for Ged to have a nemesis like Jasper?

7. Why does Le Guin present a wizard's name as so important?

8. How does Ged overcompensate for his mistakes?

9. What signs of maturity does Ged show against the dragon?

10. How do you think the Archmage's death changes Ged?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think the Shadow means within the context of the story? Why does Ged have to defeat it to move on with his life? What does the Shadow represent?

Essay Topic 2

The Wizard of Earthsea is set in a world that is similar to the Middle Ages. Like the Middle Ages, wizard and dragons are an important part of society and people believe in their powers.

1) Why do you think Le Guin has chosen to recreate a world reminiscent of the Middle Ages? Is this typical of fantasy fiction?

2) Discuss how different the novel would be if it was set in contemporary times. What problems would there be with suspension of belief? How could the writer get over these problems?

Essay Topic 3

Ursula Le Guin is famous as a feminist science fiction and fantasy writer. How do you think she portrays her female characters in this book? Why do you think she has so few female characters? Do think this is a statement in itself?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 720 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample