The Dragon and The Raven 12

Study Guide Questions: Ch. 12 “Four Years of Peace”

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)

Justice, Religion

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What took place at a “solemn ceremony” at the beginning of this chapter?

2. Name three matters that were discussed during the witenagemot at Wedmore. 

3. What did most of King Athelstan’s people do after he converted to Christianity?

4. What other nations did the Danes attack while England was enjoying a time of “comparative quiet?”

5. What did King Alfred spend his time doing during “this time of repose?”

6. What event, yet future to the time of our story, “welded the whole country” of England into a unified kingdom?

7. What did Edmund do when he was “not occupied with the affairs of his earldom?”

8. Who accompanied Edmund on the Dragon once it became necessary to defend the coast of England again?

9. Where did the Dragon end up because of the storm?

10. How did Edmund and the Crew of the Dragon demonstrate to the locals that they were not Danes?

11. What did the governor say was “a sad pity?” 

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

1. Why did Guthorn change his name to Ethelstan? Why not keep his old name?

2. Why might the Danes have ceased to significantly bother England for a time?

3. Why was Alfred so intent on giving Edmund an education?

4. Why were flags important for sailing vessels?

5. Why did the governor think that the Pope might be able to organize a resistance against the Danes when various kings had failed to do so?

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

1. When Athelstan converted to Christianity the majority of his people did the same. Do you think the beliefs of political leaders in our own day are still this influential? Why or why not? If you said yes, give an example or instance that seems to support your position. If you said no, what had changed that lessened the influence of our political leaders?

2. Edmund was unwilling to take the time and effort to learn Latin, saying that he was “well content to master some of the learning of that people by means of the King’s translations.” How important is it to learn other languages besides our native tongue? What benefits are there to learning multiple languages? What are some possible drawbacks to reading translations rather than reading a book in its original language?

3. Our story laments the lack of unity in England and among the Western Christian nations in general. What are the benefits of being unified? Are there any potential weaknesses or dangers in being unified? Think carefully and explain your answer.

   Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Daniel 1:1-7. What connection should be made between this passage and our current reading? Additionally, what should we learn from it?