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 is the name of the cruelest priest?

2. How does Alatriste know Inigo is not destined for the stake?

3. What does the man in dusty clothes hand to Alquezar?

4. Where did Alatriste meet Cagafuego?

5. Where has Alatriste been hiding out?

Short Essay Questions

1. What condition is Elvira in in this section?

2. How does Alatriste persuade Oliveres to help him in this section?

3. According to Quevedo, what does he know about the ambush?

4. How did Quevedo get the release of Inigo authorized?

5. Why does Alatriste almost kill Alquezar?

6. Why does Olvares say there is nothing he can do to help Inigo?

7. Why does Alatrste think he is safe in the gambling house?

8. Why does Inigo feign sleep when Alatriste arrives home?

9. What does Conde de Guadalmedina say are the intentions of the Inquisiton?

10. How did the auto-da-fe make sure it stayed a religious ceremony?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Inigo's character across the whole series. How does the author develop Inigo's character across the whole series? What new elements does Purity of Blood add to Inigo's character?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Perez-Reverte's representation of real people in the novel. How does Perez use his fictional characters to express his opinion of the role on Spanish society and the history of the real characters? Choose one of the real life characters in the novel and discuss how Perez represents them and the reasons why he represents them in this way? How does his representation differ from other representations of the same character?

Essay Topic 3

How does the novel suggest that non-Catholic people were dealt with in the 17th century? What is Perez-Reverte's stance on religion and, particularly, the Catholic religion? How does he express his beliefs in the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 898 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample