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. What type of tales does Ibn avoid?

2. How long was Ibn gone?

3. What is the first information given about Ibn?

4. What color is the whale that Ibn sees swimming near the boat?

5. In what year was Ibn Fadlan sent on his journey?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ibn note about the difference between the people at Trelburg and the Northmen and what does he find out there about the troubles at Rothgar's Hall?

2. What do Buliwyf and his group find in a farmhouse and what does Buliwyf find there that he smashes?

3. What is the river Gayih like and what happens when Ibn crosses it?

4. What hits the land right after the burial and what does Ibn notice about the Northmen?

5. How is the Northmen's fear explained to Ibn?

6. What is the letter that is mentioned in Chapter One?

7. What does Ibn and his party see as they walk towards Rothgar's Hall and how do the Viking warriors feel about it?

8. Why was Ibn chosen as the thirteenth warrior?

9. What does Ibn learn about Thorkel during the burial rites?

10. Where does the party stay for two days and what does Ibn find out about Northmen behavior before a sea voyage?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Wyglif's possessions are divided into three parts: one for his family, one to purchase a girl to die with him, and the last to be buried alongside him. A wild party ensues in which the Northmen get very drunk and indulge their pleasures with various women. A woman comes forward to say she will be buried with Wyglif. The girl is taken into a hut where she is raped by all of Wyglif's men. She is then held down by two men while the Angel of Death slits the girl's throat.

1. Discuss the status of slaves in the Northmen society based on the statement above. Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your own research to support your answer.

2. Discuss the status of women in a culture that encourages gang rape of a woman. Use examples from the book and your own research to support your answer.

3. How do you think the above burial practice, if viewed from a modern perspective, might demonstrate the evolution of the human race? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an important part of what makes "Eaters of the Dead" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Ibn. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Buliwyf. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Herger. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Eaters of the Dead", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Eaters of the Dead". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,196 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample