View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the most accurate advice Reverend Toti's father gives him about making the right decision to advise Agnes?
(a) "You know your own heart." (32).
(b) "Don't wake me when you return" (32).
(c) "You should seek to please the Lord" (32).
(d) "A man must be true to his word" (32).

2. What does Roslin bring to Margret in Chapter 3?
(a) Milk.
(b) Sweets.
(c) Rye bread.
(d) Danishes.

3. What is the real reason Roslin visits her friend, Margret in Chapter 3?
(a) Roslin wants advice about her own marriage.
(b) Roslin wants to gossip about Agnes.
(c) Roslin wants to help the girls with their work.
(d) Roslin wishes to give Margret a gift

4. What are the names of the two daughters in the Jonsdottir family?
(a) Margret and Lauga.
(b) Agnes and Sigga.
(c) Steina and Agnes.
(d) Steina and Lauga.

5. Whom does Blondal write a letter to about the execution axe?
(a) Reverend Toti.
(b) Natan Ketilsson.
(c) Deputy Governor of North-East Iceland.
(d) His Majesty.

6. Why does the District Commissioner feel it is appropriate for him to ask the Jonsdottir family to house a murderer?
(a) He believes the daughters will be a good influence.
(b) It is punishment, because the family has stolen from a nearby farm.
(c) He has nowhere else for her to go.
(d) He believes it's Mr. Jonsson's responsibility as District Officer of Vatnsdalur.

7. Why does Lauga get angry at Steina when the District Commissioner arrives in Chapter 1?
(a) There is a storm, and Steina does not offer to dry his clothes.
(b) He is left alone in the parlor.
(c) Steina is dirty.
(d) Steina allows him inside without Lauga's permission.

8. How does Agnes feel about the way "truth" is understood by people, as described in Chapter 4?
(a) People create truth, and it does not matter whom that person truly is.
(b) The ruth is overrated and, people think it is more valuable than it really is.
(c) Truth is a precious thing, and that one should always speak the truth.
(d) People use the truth to pretend they are Christian.

9. In Chapter 1, what two people have been murdered?
(a) Assistant Reverend Thorvandur and Natan Ketilsson.
(b) Petur Jonsson and Natan Ketilsson.
(c) Reverend Johann Tomasson.
(d) Bjorn Blondal and His Majesty the King.

10. Who will be with the Jonsdottir family the first night Agnes stays?
(a) All the woman nearby.
(b) All the District Officers from Vatnsnes.
(c) All the District Officers from Kornsa.
(d) Servants from neighboring villages.

11. In the Prologue, Agnes reveals what to the reader?
(a) She reveals that she is unmarried and unhappy.
(b) She reveals that she is in love with a married man.
(c) She reveals she has taken the lives of two men.
(d) She reveals she is an orphan.

12. Why does the poet, Rosa, dislike Agnes, as outlined in the Opening Poem in Chapter 5?
(a) She dislikes Agnes, because she believes Agnes stole Natan from her and then murdered him.
(b) She says that Agnes stole from her and gossiped about it to others.
(c) She is jealous of Agnes' beauty.
(d) She thinks Agnes is a bad mother.

13. What is Natan holding in Agnes' dream in Chapter 3?
(a) A glass beaker filled with the scum off brewing herbs.
(b) A picture of Agnes' mother.
(c) A raven who flies away after Agnes arrives.
(d) A pair of scissors covered in blood.

14. Why does Margret want to send her daughters away in Chapter 1?
(a) She cannot afford to take care of them.
(b) They have committed a crime and cannot stay at home.
(c) They are married now and must live with their husbands.
(d) She does not want them around a murderess.

15. Why does Agnes wake up every morning in Chapter 3 with a "blow of grief to her heart" (58)?
(a) Natan had abused her for many years her.
(b) Natan is dead.
(c) Sigga has a better position than her.
(d) Fridrik has killed Natan.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Agnes believe is punishment coming from God in Chapter 3?

2. What happens to Agnes' last possession in Chapter 3?

3. Steina says in Chapter 3 that she met Agnes before. What did Agnes do for the girls?

4. Why is the Jonsdottir mother, Margret, distressed at the beginning of the novel?

5. Why is Roslin initially concerned about Margret in Chapter 3?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample