View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did Mireille and Valentine hide the chess pieces they were to protect?

2. What year is it when the novel opens?

3. What causes the mystical spell to be broken?

4. Which of the following was the Abbess' message to Mireille?

5. What does Solarin call which is against all of the rules of chess?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Valentine and Mireille doing when they are disturbed by a handsome man and who is this man?

2. Why do Valentine and Mireille leave their place of safety to meet Sister Claude and what happens when they get to the appointed meeting place?

3. When the people at the chess match begin to leave, what does Lily believe is true about Fiske, Solarin's opponent?

4. What is the meaning of the title, "Pawn to Queen's Fourth", of this section of the novel and where is the title described?

5. What surprise does Mireille find out about herself on the journey to Corsica?

6. What coincidence does Catherine's friend Lily point out about how Catherine has spent her time before she leaves for Algeria?

7. What explanation does the Bishop give for his slight limp after Valentine and Mireille question him about it and the rumors they have heard about it?

8. What encounter does Philidor relate to David and what happened during the encounter?

9. To whom does Lily introduce Catherine and what happens during their meeting?

10. What does David believe is the only thing that will be able to save France and from what does he believe France needs to be saved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the author's purpose for including quotes and titles at the beginning of each section of the book? What do they offer?

Essay Topic 2

What quests share similar characteristics and have similar stories? In what ways are they similar? Use specific examples from the novel to support your suppositions.

Essay Topic 3

Of what significance is April 4th and how does the author develop the idea of this date throughout the novel? What things (people and events) does it represent a spiritually convergent date for? What and how does this foreshadow?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 763 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample