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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. Who generally rules the manse and the pastor on Norday Island?

2. Where is Matthew Ragnarson buried?

3. Where does Thorfinn spend most of the war?

4. How many Norday men are put on the list to be sent as seamen on His Majesty's men-of-war?

5. What is the present Mr. Harcourt-Smithers known for?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Mistress Ragnarson not afraid to catch consumption from her son Thorfinn (in chapter 6)?

2. What does Thorfinn find when he goes, after many long years, back to the loft where he had locked up Mara's seal skin?

3. According to chapter 5, how did the lairds of old manage to be so wealthy?

4. How does Thorfinn see Sophie that very first time?

5. What is happening to both the laird's house and the minister's manse in chapter 5?

6. Why do the seal people rush back into the sea?

7. Why did the hippies finally leave Norday Island?

8. Who was Revd Hector Drummond and what was he like?

9. What does Thomas Vass think about the arrival of work crews and machinery on Norday Island during the war?

10. Why did the Westvoe farm catch on fire and burn to the ground?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the effect of the Aerodrome project upon the Island of Norday? How does this project change their way of life forever? What do the workers bring? What do they destroy?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the themes in "The Song of the Broch." What is the overall image that Thorfinn creates? How is that image carried through in the chapter as a whole? What is the overall feeling and tone of the song? How is writing song lyrics different from telling a story through narrative or prose?

Essay Topic 3

How would you describe the writing style of this book? Historical fiction? Poetry? Lyrical fiction? Is it a combination of several styles? Describe the style and find examples in the book of this style.

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