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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. What is John Ball's response to Crispin's request.

2. Where is Bear as Crispin is following the soldiers?

3. What does Crispin reveal to John Aycliffe?

4. Who does Bear say will die soon?

5. What impresses Crispin at the town square?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Crispin do after he runs from the meeting place, and what happens to him at the tavern?

2. What does Crispin think about when he thinks of Bear, and what does he decide to do?

3. What do Crispin and Bear do as they travel towards Great Wexly, what does Bear offer and what is Crispin's feelings about the offer?

4. What does Widow Daventry say about Lord Furnival's widow?

5. Who does Crispin find at the White Stag, what does he tell them and what is their response?

6. How do Bear and Crispin get out of the palace?

7. How does Aycliffe get killed?

8. What is Bear's opinion on rebellion and what is John Ball's opinion on it?

9. What happens when Bear and Crispin reach the gate at Great Wexley and how does Crispin feel about being inside the city?

10. What does Crispin decide to do after he gets away from Aycliffe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Crispin: The Cross of Lead" belongs to the young adult novel genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the young adult novel genre.

2. Discuss two reasons why it might be useful to label a text by genre and two reasons it might be disadvantageous to label a text by genre.

3. What do you think is the difference between a young adult novel and a historical novel mystery?

Essay Topic 2

Crispin finds it very hard to cope with his situation. As he grows more tired and hungry, he begins to lose hope. He even begins to wish that he was dead, thinking that his suffering would be over and he could see his mother again. When he sees the dead man on the gallows, however, his mind is instantly changed. He comes face to face with the horror of death and realizes how much he actually wants to be alive. He realizes that his feelings were brought on by deep sadness and fear, and that he does not really want to die at all.

1. Why do you think Crispin might wish to be dead in his situation? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think someone who sees death, either in a friend or in a close brush with death is more likely to appreciate living than someone who has not confronted mortality? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Peasants in that era and location lived fairly brutal, short and difficult lives yet still continued living and having children even knowing what kind of life their children faced. Discuss why you think humans in this situation do this. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

During the Middle Ages, men were considered much more important than women. Money and property were passed down from fathers to sons. In the story, the main character is known only as Asta's son, because he does not know who his father is. He is treated badly by others because he has no father and so is seen as less important. He is not even given a proper name. He feels sad about this and cannot help thinking badly of himself, even though his situation is not his fault.

1. Why do you think the human society evolved with men being more important than women? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Considering without modern technology it was impossible to prove who an infant's father was but a mother is always known, explain why it would be more logical for children's identity to pass through the maternal side of a family.

3. Children like Crispin who was born out of wedlock were ostracized and looked down upon throughout much of human history up to just the last twenty years. Discuss the implications of a child having to pay for what was considered his or her parents' mistake. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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