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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 happens to Madelyne during the battle?

2. Who is Anthony?

3. Why does Silenus not move during the battle?

4. For whom does Madelyne take in the garments and why?

5. As Louddon is a powerful man, why is he still afraid of Duncan?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Duncan's reaction to Madelyne's actions to rescue and warm him?

2. After stopping for the night and traveling the next day, why does Gilard nag Duncan to stop their journey?

3. Why does Louddon decide to go after Duncan once he discovers the destruction at the castle?

4. What does Madelyne expect happens at the battle between Duncan's men and Louddon's men?

5. What is Madelyne's reaction to killing a man during the battle?

6. Why is Maude afraid of Madelyne at first?

7. How does the author establish Madelyne as a good person in Chapter One?

8. Duncan takes a nightly swim in the very cold water of the lake. What are his reasons, new and old?

9. What concerns does Adela have about being with child due to the rape?

10. Why is Louddon shocked when he first sees Madelyne after she returns from years at the monastery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel it is revealed that Louddon has a sexual relationship with the king that gives him favor with the king, yet Louddon is strongly attracted to Madelyne's mother, then Madelyne. Louddon realizes what a valuable commodity Madelyne is and must choose between selling her into marriage for the money or keeping her for his own lustful purposes. Compare and contrast the lure of lust, power and money for Louddon. Does his greed for any of these lead to his downfall? If he is able to retain control of Madelyne, is it more likely he keeps her for himself or sells her into marriage for the money? Provide examples from the book to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

One night Madelyne watches from her window as Duncan dives into the frosty waters of the nearby lake. It's also on that night that she first sees a large wolf on the hill near the castle. Duncan's reputation for being primitive and fearless leads to his nickname, the Wolf. Why is Duncan likened to a wolf from the very beginning of the novel? Which characters liken him to a wolf? What words does the author use to make Duncan seem wolf-like? Why does the novel end with Madelyne being saved from Louddon by the wolf? Compare and contrast Duncan with the wolf, both figuratively and literally. Provide examples from the book to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

What is the function of Gerald in the novel and how does the author use him to contribute to the story as a whole? How does he relate to the Wexton men? How does he relate to Madelyne and Adela? Does the addition of this character advance the plot, reveal character in one or more of the main characters, provide the opportunity for allusion to Greek myths, something else? Pick three ways that the author uses the character of Gerald to advance some aspect of the story and provide examples from the novel to support your argument.

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