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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. Where does Talia land when she falls?

2. What is the next female guard like?

3. What awes Talia?

4. What is parallel to the road upon which Talia is traveling?

5. Where does Talia go after dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Talia as she is walking back from archery practice and what does she do about it?

2. Who is the woman who came into Talia's room and what does Talia find out from her?

3. What does a young girl do when she enters Talia's room and how does the woman who comes in respond to Talia's behavior?

4. What is Talia's social life like in her holding?

5. What does Elcarth show Talia and what room most excites her?

6. Why does Elcarth have to leave Talia's tour?

7. What are the differences in the roles between men and women in Talia's holding and why might she be different than many women?

8. What does the man in blue tell Talia she has to do when they talk to him at a small village?

9. How long do Talia and Rolan travel and how is Talia feeling about the change in her life?

10. What fantasy does Talia have after she escapes from the meeting with her father's wives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

Trace and analyze the theme of power throughout Arrows of the Queen. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with power? Why? What are some symbols of power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless?

Trace and analyze the theme of magic throughout Arrows of the Queen. What characters are most concerned with magic? Why? What are some symbols of magic? How does a Herald's gift give an automatic advantage to someone over another who has no gifts? Is there abuse of this ability? Do you think the fact that Heralds are gifted creates resentment among the non-gifted populace?

Trace and analyze the theme of evil throughoutArrows of the Queen. What characters are what you would call evil? Why? What are some symbols of evil? Symbols of good? Are more characters evil than good or vice versa? Do you think in general there is less evil than good in Arrows of the Queen?

Essay Topic 2

Talia is harassed by a group of students called "Blues," who, for the most part are children of nobles in the Kingdom of Valdemar. Discuss the following:

1. Give a brief summary of who is harassing Talia, why, and the ways they are harassing her. Be sure to cite specific examples to demonstrate your exposition.

2. Do you think the "noble" born should be entitled to a privileged life by virtue of their birth? Why or why not?

3. Should nobility be awarded based upon one's achievements and character rather than birth? How would that system work?

4. Do you think the countries that still have an existent system of nobility will eventually discard it? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Arrows of the Queen is successful as a fantasy novel? Why or why not.

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another of Mercedes Lackey's Herald and Companion series? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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