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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 another fleet of Saracen ships come to invade Rome?

2. What illness befalls the Pope in Chapter 19?

3. What do the Saracens take from the basilica?

4. Who dies protecting the Pope from falling fire debris?

5. Who takes advantage of the Pope's illness by exerting his power beyond the limits of his position as missus?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Joan implement in order to help slow the spread of the plague during Church services?

2. Who is referred to as 'Little Pope' under Pope Leo? Why?

3. Why does Pope Leo excommunicate Anastasius?

4. What truth does Joan learn when she sees Gerold again? How does Joan react to Gerold's request to run away?

5. Why does Joan finally agree to run away with Gerold?

6. To what office does Anastasius aspire? For what reason?

7. Who begins to plot against Pope Joan because of her ideas?

8. What miracle does Joan create in order to stop the fighting between Pope Sergius and Lothar?

9. Who starts the fire that burns the new wall Pope Leo is building and destroys several other buildings, including the school? Why?

10. Who does Gerold support in the battle between the dead Emperor's three sons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why did Joan cut her hair and take her brother's cloak after the massacre on her wedding day? Where does Joan go? Why? What education does Joan receive in this new place? How does this situation place Joan in trouble? What might happen if Joan were discovered? Who eventually does discover the truth? What does this person do? Who else knows the truth about Joan? Why does no one ever learn the truth about Joan? How likely is it that a woman could live in this way for so many years and deceive so many people? How does the author explain this deceit to the reader?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Joan's rise in the Catholic Church. How does Joan come to be a monk? When is Joan promoted to priest? What is the reaction of other monks? How does this reaction foreshadow other times in which Joan's rise will negatively or positively affect those around her? How does Joan come to be doctor to the Pope? Why is the Pope's brother threatened by her presence? What action does the brother take against Joan? How does Joan's position in the Pope's home eventually lead to her becoming Pope?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following parts of the setting in detail, citing examples from the novel:

1. Time period in which the novel takes place

2. The religious influence and power associated with the plot

3. The political influence and power associated with the plot.

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