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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. Where does Mary Jane live?

2. Where does Rowen want Mona to go with her?

3. Where does Mr. Ash decide to travel?

4. About what does the call concern?

5. What does Yuri think a member of the Talmasca did?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mona find out at the doctor's office, and what does she want to ask Rowan about it?

2. In what kind of place does Mary Jane live?

3. What does Rowan want to know about the room where Lasher kept her and what does Mona know about the information Rowan wants?

4. Who does Yuri call in New Orleans, what does he learn and what conclusion does he draw from the information?

5. Where does the woman in the Motherhouse take Ash, and what does he do there?

6. What phone call does Ash get in Chapter 1, and what is the result of that phone call?

7. What is Rowan's situation at the beginning of Chapter 2?

8. What is Mona craving while pregnant, what does she fear and what does Mary Jane say about Mona's fears?

9. What do Marklin, Tommy and Stuart discover when they go to the Motherhouse and what do the Talmasca offer Stuart? How does Stuart respond?

10. What happens when Ash meets Tessa?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or ideas that are not a part of the "real" world. In the case of Taltos, much of the setting may seem familiar to the reader (i.e. it is in the "real" world), though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of Taltos that occur in the "real" world, but are used differently in Taltos.

2. Define the words as used in Taltos's world, and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of Taltos. Did you have to look up any words? What does it mean to learn a word through its context? Do you have to do that in Taltos? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from Taltos? Which ones?

Essay Topic 2

Most fantasy novels, and in some sense, most novels, deal with the concept of good and evil. Discuss the following:

1. What are the forces allied with "good" in Taltos's world and what forces are allied with "evil"?

2. How does one distinguish good from evil? How is good distinguished from evil in Taltos's world?

3. Is there a universal consensus on what constitutes good or evil? Why or why not?

4. Do you generally agree with the ideas of good and evil in Taltos? Why or why not?

5. What are several examples of good and evil in your culture? Do you agree with these ideas? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Taltos. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in Taltos. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in Taltos. Consider the death of whole races such as the Taltos or the Little People. Include the homicides that happen in Taltos.

(see the answer keys)

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