1. The theme of this novel is that which one would expect from a story about a
knight. Much of the novel deals with the honor of one's country, one's
countrymen, and one's god. Huma, the hero of the novel, has a chance to run off
with the girl he loves and abandon his mission because he is presumed dead. He
overcomes this temptation , however, and continues his brave mission to save his
world. Another instance of temptation to take the easy way out, but lose honor,
occours at the very instant that he was about to complete his quest. While
fighting the Dragonqueen, she offers him the chance to rule by her side for an
eternity. He refuses her and eventually dies while defeating her, and maintains
his honor. 10. Huma's close friend and fellow knight, Rennard, had been
strangely stricken with the plague earlier in his life. He also befriends Huma
when many criticize him. His features were very pale, and he did not show much
emotion at all. These things are all common in the followers of the god of
disease. Because Rennard had been a Knight for so long, no one thought anything
about his resemblance to the god of disease. Later, it is discovered by Huma
that Rennard was indeed a follower of the god of disease. Huma discovers this as
Rennard is about to kill Grand Master, the knighthood's leader. The author chose
to use this foreshadowing as a complete surprise to the reader. It was only a
small hint, but it was enough to make one take notice. In another part of the
story, Huma was separated from his friend Kaz , a monitor. Huma found a knight's
outpost on the edge of the forest and hopes Kaz will find him. Later the knights
went out to capture a beast that the elves told them was in the forest. To
Huma's surprise the searching party returned with poor Kaz trapped in their
nets. The author obviously used this as a good way to re-enter Kaz into the
story after Kaz had been lost. 2. Dragon Mountain was a particularly important
place in the story. While exploring its vast caves , Huma defeated the three
trials of honor. At the end of these trials he became a worthy knight to defeat
the Dragonqueen. Also, he met a ancient blacksmith who gave him twenty dragon
lances that were used to defeat the Dragonqueen. 5. The novel basically ends in
Huma defeating the Dragonqueen. Huma is riding his dragon, who also takes the
human form of Gwyneth ( Huma's love), and drives the dragonlance into the
Dragonqueen. The dragonlance breaks off into the Dragonqueen's body; this does
not kill her, but she cannot remove the lance. Huma and Gwyneth are plummeted
toward the mountain below and barely survive the inncedent. After a short while
, Huma decides it is best to let the Dragonqueen go with the exception that she
will never return to his world again. After the queen departs Huma and Gwyneth
die in each others arms and go to a form of paradise. The novels ending is a
good one in that it ends Huma's quest to save his world. Huma gains great honor
and even becomes a legend for the deeds he did for his world. Also, I must voice
my opinion about the deaths of both Huma and Gwyneth. I feel that their deaths
were a bad choice by the author. Although this made the story more realistic, it
left the story on a downfall that , to me , overshadowed Huma's victory. I would
have ended on a happy note. 7. There were two big examples of irony in this
novel. One was the shock of Rennard's betrayal to the knighthood. Rennard and
Huma were the Grand Master's closest colleagues. This was proven to be a false
front on Rennard's part to try to get in close enough to kill the Grand Master.
Also, when Huma faced the decision whether to kill or free the Dragonqueen, he
found himself with a delima. His whole quest had been based on seeking and
destroying the queen. When faced with the opportunity, he realized that he could
not kill her. If he did, the balance between good and evil would be altered
drastically. This would destroy his world. He was forced to let the Dragonqueen
go free on the condition that she never return to his world again.