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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 does Herger tell Ibn when Ibn says he is afraid?

2. What does Herger do after he talks to Ibn?

3. Why does Buliwyf talk slowly to Ibn?

4. What shocks Ibn about the Northmen's attitude after the first battle?

5. How many wendol guard the entrance to the mother's home?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the dwarfs give the warriors and what do they say to Buliwyf's question about a successful attack?

2. What does Buliwyf tell Ibn and ask him to do?

3. Why does Buliwyf sit with Ibn and how does Buliwyf talk?

4. How are wounded warriors treated for their wounds?

5. How does Ibn meet up and get to know a Northwoman?

6. Where does Ibn awake after the battle and what does he see as he walks across the compound?

7. What is the only time Ibn can observe the Northmen showing any emotions about the first battle with the wendol?

8. What does Buliwyf do as they are heading back to Rothgar's Hall and why? What does Ibn think about Herger's information?

9. What is the landscape like in the Desert of Dread?

10. What do the Northmen do around mid-morning the day after the second battle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The reading of the bones is not described in much detail, but some readers may recognize this act as a common ritual among certain cultures. An old woman or man is revered as a type of prophet able to read the future. This person is used to determine the wisdom of acting in a certain way whenever a difficult situation presents itself. Buliwyf does not argue with the crone's words but rather accepts them and his own fate.

1. What do you think is the difference between superstition and belief? Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your research to support your answer.

2. Why do you think Buliwyf accepts his fate in such a stoic manner? Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your research to support your answer.

3. How do you think a crone who is considered a prophet or seer might be able to influence the men in a community? Use examples from the novel and your own research to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Crichton discusses the differences between Ibn Fadlan's observations about the Vikings and the common European view of the Northmen. Crichton reviews the numerous ways that show the Vikings were not the barbarians Europeans made them out to be. The Viking lifestyle is surprisingly modern with a strong sense of ritual.

1. Ritual is important in most civilizations. Support or refute the following statement with supporting reasons: Low technological societies or early civilizations had more ritual than modern civilizations. Use examples from Eaters of the Dead and your own life to support your answer.

2. The Europeans had a very negative view of the Northmen which Ibn shares until he spends some time with them and actually know them. In view of this explain how the cliche "You can't tell a book by its cover," applies to the situation between the view of the European towards the Northmen and Ibn's final views of the Northmen. Use examples from Eaters of the Dead and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think rituals are important to human culture? Use examples from "Eaters of the Dead" and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

"Eaters of the Dead" belongs to the historical fiction fantasy genre. Discuss the following:

1. Define the literary term "genre" and give several examples of three other genres in addition to the historical 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 science fiction novel and a historical fiction fantasy novel?

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