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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 is the scene Joseph sees when he first goes to explore the marketplace?

2. How old is Joseph Charnetski?

3. What does the stranger tell a group of people Pan Andrew did that makes them angry?

4. Why do the men in the caravan carry weapons?

5. In Chapter 2, whom does Pan Andrew say he has to come to see?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the oath that the trumpeter takes.

2. Why does Joseph catch the wolf dog in Chapter 2?

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

4. In Chapter 9, is Peter of the Button Face successful in obtaining the treasure?

5. What was the meeting between Joseph and Stas like in the courtyard as described in Chapter 6?

6. How does Peter of the Button Face plan to break into Pan Andrew's apartment and steal the treasure in Chapter 9?

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

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

9. In Chapter 4, what occurs when the Charnetski family accompanies Jan Kanty to his home?

10. Explain how the city of Krakow reacts to the villagers fleeing.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Did you like the author's use of science as he describes how Kreutz frightens Peter of the Button Face with the explosions? Why or why not? Was this combination of attacking with science believable? Was it consistent with the belief in magic at the time? Or do you think this scene was used by the author to prove that science triumphs over superstition and sorcery? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

How do you feel about the fact that Elzbietka cannot study at the University because she is female? Did this add to the plot line? Does it seem strange that Joseph doesn't know the reason for her not being allowed to study? Why would the author have handled this particular issue in this manner?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the conflict between superstition and science in the novel. Do you think this was an important issue to the author? What is he trying to portray by returning to this conflict? Does the conflict seem relevant to the main theme of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 863 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample