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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 Katsa have the man from question #62 do when they arrive?

2. What surprises Katsa as she walks out of the dungeon?

3. Who is in the room when Katsa answers King Randa's summons?

4. About what is Katsa emphatic with Po?

5. What was decided at the meeting of the Council about the guards in the dungeon?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Katsa doing at the beginning of the book, and what does she do with the people who would stop her?

2. Where do Po and Katsa spend their second night on the road and what upsets Katsa in the common room?

3. How is Katsa feeling the second evening on their way to Monsea, what does Po suggest, what do they end up doing about Katsa's feelings?

4. On what mission is Katsa, Giddon and Oll sent by Randa?

5. How is Katsa feeling about her attraction to Po, what does she tell him and what is his response?

6. How do Po and Katsa decide to get to Monsea and what does Katsa wonder about with King Leck?

7. What happens when Katsa is summoned to Randa about Ellis?

8. Why does Katsa kill people and what does she decide to do about the kings of the seven kingdoms?

9. Where do Oll, Giddon and Katsa stay when they finish their mission with the borderlord and what happens there?

10. What does Po say to Katsa about Giddon and what is Katsa's response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Graceling", questions that Cashore most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Cashore's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Cashore's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Cashore and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 2

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Po and Leck. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Katsa and Po. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in "Graceling" help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

Essay Topic 3

"Graceling" falls in the genre called fantasy. Discuss the following:

1. What is the definition of genre? Fantasy genre? How do you know "Graceling" falls in the genre of fantasy? Give examples.

2. Other than entertainment, why do you think people might read fantasy?

3. Fantasy is sometimes considered second-rate fiction--i.e., that it is not good enough to be studied in academe. Why do you think this is true? Do you think it is a valid argument?

(see the answer keys)

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