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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 Matron Baenre tell her daughter to do if Berh'inyon won't follow instructions?

2. What does Drizzt notice as he and Catti are fighting?

3. What do Harkle and Bella don DelRoy encounter towards the end of Chapter Twenty-Four?

4. Why is Matron Baenre gloating?

5. Who does Baenre lead against House Oblodra?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the way to the west closed to Bensell?

2. What does Drizzt do with the figurine in Chapter Thirteen?

3. What has Uthegental been told to do about Blingdenstone but what does he do? What does he find?

4. Describe how Uthegental is killed.

5. How does Matron Baenre finally punish K'yorl?

6. Why is Catti-brie crying when Drizzt finds her on the plateau and how do she and he resolve her problem?

7. What overwhelms Bidderdoo and what is his reaction to being attacked by a kobold?

8. How is Drizzt almost killed when he is battling a Minotau and how is he saved?

9. What does Drizzt do when he goes to where Catti-brie is practicing her sword? What does he notice about her sword?

10. What does Drizzt discuss in his letter before Chapter Seventeen about the dwarfs and what does he say about them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the conclusion of a novel, most readers either consciously or unconsciously engage in processing the book and usually come to a conclusion as to whether they like the book or not. Discuss one of the following:

1. Would you consider SIEGE OF DARKNESS a "good" book? Why or why not? Use examples to illustrate your stance.

2. What do you think are the elements of an outstanding novel? Analyze one of your favorite novels to see if those elements are present.

3. What are some reasons you might consider a novel a failure? Analyze a novel you think is a failure and see if those elements are in that novel.

Essay Topic 2

SIEGE OF DARKNESS, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of SIEGE OF DARKNESS and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why SIEGE OF DARKNESS is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation of Belwar being relieved when he learns the city of Bingdenstone has been attacked. Find two other instances of irony and analyze them.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols you choose to analyze from SIEGE OF DARKNESS. What do they symbolize? Is the symbolism obvious? Effective? Does the symbolism contribute to the enjoyment of reading?

3. Discuss five literary devices that occur in SIEGE OF DARKNESS and how they are used. Are they effective? Do they add or detract from the reading of the book? Why or why not. Some possible devices: Allusion, connotation, denouement, dialogue, flashback, figurative language, motif, metaphor, narrator, point of view, simile, mood, and puns.

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