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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 Merlin do when he hears the scream in the woods?

2. What happens when Merlin trips and falls?

3. Who does Ambrosius ask Merlin about?

4. Where does Merlin hide in the cave?

5. Who approaches Merlin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would Merlin be described when he was a young boy?

2. What causes the other men in the pub to turn and to stare at Dinias and Merlin?

3. How might Merlin's memory be described?

4. What happens with Merlin's pony?

5. What does Merlin overhear when he is hiding under the house?

6. What does Merlin see in his vision when he goes back to the crystal cave and Galapas?

7. What does Cerdic do when he sees the cut on Merlin's face?

8. What do Merlin and Cadal find when they arrive back at Galapas' cave?

9. What does Merlin have a vision of when he goes back to talk with Ambrosius?

10. What does Merlin tell Ambrosius about Lady Niniane?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Men are the primary focus of this story, with examples of strong men on nearly every page of the novel.

Part 1 - What are some of the roles of men in this novel? What do they provide for others?

Part 2 - What does the author seem to be saying about men in this novel? Are men positively or negatively portrayed?

Part 3 - What are the roles of women in this novel? What does this seem to say about the author's own feelings?

Essay Topic 2

Time seems to be scattered in this novel, with time slowing down and then speeding up at irregular intervals.

Part 1 - What is the importance of time in this novel? Is it important? Why?

Part 2 - What does Merlin's storytelling and the lapses in the time periods seem to say about Merlin?

Part 3 - Can the reader understand the story when it's not told in a linear fashion? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Merlin is a curious creature in this novel from beginning to end. And at times, this is not a good quality to have.

Part 1 - Describe one way in which Merlin's curiosity helps him. What happens? What actions does he take and what is the result?

Part 2 - Describe one time in which Merlin's curiosity hurts him? What happens? What actions does he take and what is the result?

Part 3 - Does Merlin's curiosity seem to be a bad or a good thing? Support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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