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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. When the Polish people hear the word "Tartar," they:

2. What is the name of the fortress and castle of the king of Poland on a hill above the Vistula River?

3. What does Kreutz say about trances and experiments?

4. By what name do the Polish people know the stranger?

5. What do the people do when they hear the Tartars' approach in 1241?

Short Essay Questions

1. Provide some characteristics of the new lodgings for the Charnetski family.

2. Describe how the people of Poland feel when they hear that the Tartars are marching toward their land?

3. Describe why the last note the trumpeter plays is broken.

4. Why do the Polish people decide not to defend Krakow and let the Tartars pillage their city?

5. Explain how the Polish people feel as they have to leave their villages because they know the Tartars are arriving.

6. In Chapter 8, Stas identifies Joseph and Elzbietka to a stranger. What information does he provide to the stranger?

7. Describe the caravan from Chapter 1.

8. List some of the things that Joseph sees and hears as he first sets his sights on the city in Chapter 2.

9. What does the reader learn about the stranger in Chapter 8?

10. How does Joseph know that the stranger is an enemy in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the life lessons that the author is trying to teach throughout this novel? Do you think this kind of teaching can make an impact on a young person today?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Joseph's bravery. Does his character description make for an exciting hero? Is his character believable? Are there other characters who show bravery that you preferred in the novel? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Do you think that Peter of the Button Face's bargain with the king was fair? Do you think the king should have let Peter go in exchange for information? Or do you think he should have punished him more severely? Why do you think the king would have believed that Peter would never return to Poland again?

(see the answer keys)

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