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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 the group eventually decide to do with the winged demon?

2. What does Kin request from the Djinnee?

3. What does Silver do when she begins to lose her sanity?

4. The demon claims that is was knocked out of the sky by _________.

5. What is unusual about the demon's appearance?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the group being followed by, and how is it unusual?

2. What happens to Kin and the others at the end of this section?

3. What do the locals intend to do with Kin, and how is this prevented?

4. Why does Kin refuse to believe that the Company could have created the flat planet?

5. What do Kin and Marco resolve to do until Shand proteins can be found for Silver?

6. Where does the Djinnee come from, and what does he do?

7. How do Kin's feelings about the Company begin to change soon after the dumbwaiter is destroyed?

8. How is Kin rescued, and what do the characters think about the manner or her rescue?

9. Describe the creature put into the cell next to Kin. What does the group eventually learn and speculate about it?

10. What happens to Silver as she and the others near the hub?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Terry Pratchett is an author known for his unusual sense of humor, and humorous events often play a critical role in his novels.

Part 1) Describe the general presence and use of humor in the novel. What dramatic purpose does it generally serve?

Part 2) What are some examples of humorous characters or situations that serve no other purpose than to be entertaining? Do these sections contribute in a positive way to the general mood and tone of the story?

Part 3) Describe some humorous characters or situations which drive the plot forward in important ways, or at important times. How does the use of humor affect these situations?

Essay Topic 2

"The Hero's Journey," a collection of archetypal story elements, was suggested by Joseph Campbell as an explanatory tool for understanding storytelling. The structure of this novel demonstrates several of Campbell's archetypes.

Part 1) Explain Campbell's "Hero's Journey." Could the author have been aware of this concept, and does it appear to have informed his writing?

Part 2) Discuss ways in which elements of the plot correspond to stages from the hero's journey. Explain each stage that applies and cite the section from the book that corresponds to it, giving examples and a full explanation of the correspondence.

Part 3) Discuss stages of the hero's journey that are not present in the novel. Are these omissions demanded by the plot? Would the story have been significantly enhanced by the addition of any particular archetype?

Essay Topic 3

There are many examples of characters attempting and succeeding in taking revenge in this novel. It is a major theme that causes important changes within characters and drives the plot forward at important points.

Part 1) Which characters attempt or succeed in taking revenge in the novel? What are their motivations? Are they justified in their intentions?

Part 2) How do these actions affect and change these characters? Do they come to regret their actions?

Part 3) What can be said about the overall impact of the desire for revenge in the novel? In general, is it helpful or destructive? If one or more cases are exceptions to this general rule, explain their nature and importance.

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