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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. Where does Vainamoinen plant his tree?

2. What does Vainamoinen ask Aino to do for him when they are walking through the forest together?

3. What does Ilmarinen ride off on, after he finds out where Vainamoinen is going?

4. What does the Storyteller tell us in the first stanzas?

5. Where does the Storyteller get his story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Vainamoinen tells Aino to wear jewelry?

2. What happens after Vainamoinen refuses to cease working at his blacksmith's shop inside of Vipunen?

3. How does Vainamoinen heal his people from Louhi's revenge?

4. What happens when Vainamoinen goes to the underworld?

5. What happens when Ilmarinen tried to fashion a new wife for himself?

6. What does Kullervo do when he discovers Ilmarinen's wife's disdain for him?

7. What happens when the Daughter of the Air comes to earth?

8. What happens when Lemminkainen and the Lord of Pohja start a conjuring duel?

9. What story does Anio's mother tell her to make her feel better about marrying Vainamoinen?

10. Describe Lemminkainen's elk hunt.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe three transformations in the Kalevala. How do characters change shape or take different forms? Which characters have this ability? Which do not? How would you characterize this power of transformation? Is it merely a narrative ploy, or were there characters in Finnish culture who were once supposed to have had this power?

Essay Topic 2

Many times characters sing praises for the Creator, but there are also many cases where characters create things themselves. How are the characters' creations celebrated or recognized? What kinds of creation are reserved for the Creator? Do any of the characters try to overstep the limits of their creative abilities? Using examples from the text, describe creations in the Kalevala.

Essay Topic 3

Enchantments and magic are commonplace throughout the Kalevala. Are they used for good or evil? Are good and evil even appropriate terms to describe the use of magic and enchantment. If good and evil are not the most appropriate terms, how would you describe the uses to which magic is put? Is magic simply a matter of convenience? Fear or desire? Power?

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This section contains 1,070 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample