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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. Why can't Ged get to Roke?

2. What does the paving stone at the base of the castle contain?

3. What does Vetch insist on doing?

4. What is the woman's name?

5. How does Ged help the couple before he leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think the Shadow runs away after Ged tries to grab it?

2. How is it important to the story that Ged's mother died during his early childhood?

3. Why does LeGuin change the point of view from Ged to Ogion?

4. What is significant about the reintroduction of Vetch?

5. In what way does Ged show he is still not mature enough to defeat the Shadow?

6. Do you think Ged achieves everything in his life he wanted to do?

7. What does Ged learn from his confrontation with Skiorh?

8. Is Ged romantically interested in Yarrow?

9. What does Vetch's comment that he was there in beginning so he should be there in the end, mean in context of the story?

10. Why is it significant that Ged and Vetch travel through uncharted seas?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the Wizard of Earthsea, a person's and even an animal's name is kept secret and if said by someone else can cause that person or animal to lose power. Why do you think names are so important in the book? Why do the wizards change their names?

Essay Topic 2

Ged builds some lasting friendships, but he also makes enemies. One of these enemies is Jasper. Discuss the importance of Jasper as a character. What purpose does he serve in the story? How is he important to Ged's development? Why do you think Le Guin does not bring him him back to the story.

Essay Topic 3

The Wizard of Earthsea is a fantasy novel with many of the conventions you would associate with the fantasy genre.

1) Discuss what you already know about the fantasy genre. What do you think are the conventions of a fantasy book in terms of structure, characters and themes?

2) What kind of fantasy book is Wizard of Earthsea? What conventions does it use from the genre? Does it take anything from any other genre? Does Le Guin subvert any of the fantasy genres conventions?

(see the answer keys)

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