The Dragon and The Raven 10

Study Guide Questions for Ch. 10 “The Combat”

If you are looking for the beginning of the study for G. A. Henty’s The Dragon and The Raven then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!

Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Virtue, Indifference, Prudence, Honor, Humility, Justice, Friendship, Love, Hope, Despair, Religion, Joy

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What did Edmund say he “would rather die” than do?

2. What did Edmund say that the Christian religion teaches about virtue?

3. According to Jarl Siebert, what had “gone wrong at the council?”

4. What was Freda’s reaction when Edmund promised to spare Sweyn’s life if he could? 

5. Freda said she would pray to Odin for Edmund’s safety. How did Edmund respond to this?

6. How did Edmund beat Sweyn in the combat?

7. What did Edmund do with the wealth that was showered upon him as the victor?

8. What “Solemn promise” did Edmund give to Freda?

9. What was the state of things among the Saxons by the time Edmund returned home?

10. How was Edmund’s homecoming received by Egbert and the people of his district? 

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. What seems to be the fundamental distinction between the reasons why the Danish vikings go to war versus why the Christian Saxons go to war?

2. Why does Freda dislike Sweyn?

3. Why did Jarl Siegbert think that Edmund could not legitimately be forced to fight Sweyn?

4. Why did Edmund feel obligated to fight Sweyn even though Jarl Eric acknowledged the justice of Jarl Siegbert’s argument?

5. Why was Edmund able to beat Sweyn with what appeared to be relative ease (although Sweyn was a powerful warrior)?

6. What should be inferred about the Saxons’ Christianity if they were already turning to worship the Norse deities? 

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Edmund claimed that the Christian religion “teaches us that mere courage is not the highest virtue.” What would you say is the highest virtue? Explain and defend your answer with good reasoning.

2. What do you think of Edmund’s pledge to Freda to return for her? Was he right or wrong to make such a pledge? Why?

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. How would you relate the teaching of this passage to our current reading?