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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. How long is Harry's hair?

2. What is waiting for Harry when she wakes in the morning?

3. Why do the girls decide to return to the Residency?

4. What does Amelia offer to do for Corlath's visit?

5. Why is Mathin training Harry?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Corlath have Harry do at the camp, why is she offended and what is Corlath's response to her anger?

2. What does Harry see when she drinks from the Water of Sight?

3. What does Harry do after breakfast, who befriends her and what does Corlath do to prepare her for the rest of the journey?

4. Why is Richard worried about Harry and how does she settle in her new home?

5. What does Corlath think his kelar is showing him and why does he think he is wrong?

6. What does Mathin show her about fire, what can he not teach her and why and what do they do after Harry's sixth week of training?

7. What does Jack discover about Harry during a dinner conversation?

8. Who helped put Harry in her new home and how did he do it?

9. When does Harry get up to begin her training, of what does her training consist and what does Mathin give her to help with her training?

10. What do the girls do when they are back in the Residency and what does Jack say about how Corlath was feeling?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in this story. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think McKinley chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think McKinley chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss McKinley's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, cliffhangers, deux ex machina, etc.), and how they add or detract from the story. Does McKinley use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 2

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Robin McKinley.

2. What in McKinley's background may have helped him in writing "The Blue Sword"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

Essay Topic 3

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 "The Blue Sword", much of the setting may seem familiar to the reader (i.e. there are woods, mountains, rivers, oceans, etc.), though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of "The Blue Sword" that occur in the "real" world but are used differently in the book.

2. Define the words as used in "The Blue Sword" 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 "The Blue Sword". 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 "The Blue Sword"? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from "The Blue Sword"? Which ones?

(see the answer keys)

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