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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. Why do Danel and Essun argue before crossing the desert?

2. What happened to Gaewha after Syl Anagist fell?

3. Why does the Earth want vengeance against humanity?

4. What do the people of Castrima do with the node maintainers they find at Rennanis?

5. How does Nassun's spare key work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the tuners see when they visit the amethyst obelisk’s socket?

2. How does Nassun respond when Essun hesitates to help her activate the obelisk gate?

3. What does Hoa reveal to Essun about Alabaster during their nighttime meeting in Rennanis?

4. Who interrupts Nassun as she attempts to activate the Obelisk Gate?

5. While Nassun is distracted, what does Schaffa do in the chamber where the Guardians are kept?

6. What happens to Lerna on the journey to Corepoint?

7. Why is Schaffa narrating the story to Essun?

8. What does Hoa call it when Nassun uses magic and orogeny at the same time?

9. What does Essun use to control the Obelisk Gate in opposition to Nassun?

10. How does Kelenli describe the relationship between the tuners and the Niess when she explains the history of the Niess to the tuners?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hoa is an observant character and has lived longer than the other viewpoint characters in the book. Analyze his descriptions of Syl Anagist from the Prologue. How do his descriptions suggest his feelings about Syl Anagist? How does he foreshadow the events of the novel? How could Hoa’s feelings influence our understanding of Syl Anagist?

Essay Topic 2

Characters in the novel are deeply tied to the geography of the world around them. Some geographical features, such as the Stone Forest and the twin calderas surrounding the Station, serve as the backdrop for major story moments. Choose one geographical feature from the text and analyze the role it plays in the plot. What logistical challenges does it introduce for the characters? What social or psychological struggles follow from the presence of this geographical feature?

Essay Topic 3

Violence and the threat of violence take many forms throughout the novel, especially concerning the place of orogenes and tuners in society. Write an essay analyzing the types of violence that orogenes and tuners are subjected to and what this communicates about their rights, duties and overall social role.

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