The Dark
The Light
The Signs
The Importance of the Signs
Random Trivia
100
Why do the members of the Dark despise the signs?
The Dark is scared of the signs. They are trying to take over the world from the Light, and the only way they can do it is to overpower the Light. With the signs, the Light will not be easy to defeat, and the Dark will not rise.
100
How did Will get the Sign of Bronze?
The Walker gave Will the Sign of Bronze.
100
How many Signs are there?
There are six signs.
100
What page does the author, Susan Cooper, first let you know about how important the sign is? What does Cooper say to draws your attention?
Susan Cooper first lets you know the sign is important on page 9. Cooper shows you it's important through the character farmer Dawson, who is telling Will that it is important and that he will always need to keep it with him.
100
What present does Will's brother, Paul, receive at the end of the book?
Paul receives the flute that he had played and fallen in love with at the House of the Manor.
200
Who stole the sign of bronze from Will, and on what page?
Maggie Barnes stole the sign of bronze from Will on page 80.
200
Why are the signs important to the Light?
The signs are important to the Light because without them they will not be able to stop the Dark from rising.
200
What is the first sign that Will gets?
The first sign that Will gets is the Sign of Iron.
200
What ways does Susan Cooper show the importance of the signs?
Susan Cooper uses similes, metaphors, spends a lot of time on the signs and describes them in extreme detail.
200
Who does Merriman pose as in Will's century so that he can be around Will?
While Merriman is in Will's time, he poses as lyon, the new butler at the House of the Manor.
300
How does the Dark slow Will down from his process of getting the signs? Why?
The Dark creates distractions, or roadblocks such as snowstorms, thunderstorms, rook flocks going wild, and injuries. They create these distractions to slow Will in his process of collecting the full circle of the signs so the Dark can rise before Will collects all signs.
300
Who is Hawkin, and how is he important to the Light?
Hawkin is important to the Light because he is the protector of the Book of Grammarye, the book that contains everything the Light knows, their book of knowledge. But, Hawkin becomes overwhelmed and he betrays the Light, becoming a part of the Dark. He also gives Will the second sign, the sign of bronze.
300
What is the shape of all the signs and where else does that shape appear?
The shape of the Signs is a circle with a cross in the middle. They appear on the hooves of the horse of the Light and on Will's ornament.
300
What does it mean that Will is the Sign-Seeker?
Being the Sign-Seeker means that you have to collect all six signs and join them. It is a hard job that takes a lot of time.
300
How old is Will? Why is the exact date he was born on important?
Will is eleven years old. Will's birthday is the day of the winter solstice, which makes him an Old One. Will is the 500th Old One, and he completed the circle of the Old Ones.
400
What does the Dark do to the ship after the final sign is found?
After Will finds the sixth sign, and the ship sails off, the Rider of the Dark sends a streak of lightning down from the cloud, and sets the boat on fire out of anger.
400
How is the present Will receives from Stephen related to the Light?
The present is important because it is a carnival head, which belongs to the Hunter. When the Hunter puts on the mask, it becomes a part of him, and he becomes all powerful, getting rid of the Dark for that point.
400
Why is the Sign-Seeker an important part in The Dark is Rising?
The Sign-Seeker is an important job because without the six signs the Light will not be able to stop the Dark, so it is the Sign-Seekers job to collect the signs. The Sign-Seeker is also important because if the Dark gets the Signs then the Light will never be able to stop them and the Dark could take over the world forever.
400
What is a way that the Dark tries to get the signs from Will?
The Dark takes Mary, who is Will's sister, and threatens to kill her if Will doesn't give them the signs. Will says no and using the forces of the Light, Mary is able to return home safely.
400
What are the six signs and the order Will found them in?
The six signs are: Iron, Bronze, Wood, Stone, Water, and Fire, and they were found in the previous order.
500
What power does the Dark use to try to stop Will from finding the final sign before it is too late for them to rise?
The Dark uses a special power that only they have. They send out this high pitched squeal in the air, that tranquilizes you, so they can d anything while you are under, and you are not able to move and stop them.
500
On what page and how does does Will learn he is an old one?
Will learns he is an old one on page 51.
500
On what page does Will learn that his job is the Sign-Seeker?
Will learns that he is the Sign-Seeker on page 52.
500
Why does Farmer Dawson make Will's ornament the shape of the signs and not the initial of his name?
Farmer Dawson makes it the shape of the sign because if he made it the initial of Will's name that Dark could use it against him and stop him from collecting all of the signs.
500
How were the signs joined?
The signs were joined by the blacksmith. They were put in a circular formation, on a golden chain, with an oak wooden bottom, because the Dark hates oak.
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