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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the nickname of Assistant Reverend Thorvardur Jonsson?
(a) Thorv.
(b) Toti.
(c) Bjorn.
(d) Steina.

2. Who speaks from the first person perspective more than any other character?
(a) Toti.
(b) Margret.
(c) Agnes.
(d) Sigga.

3. Who is the mistress of the Jonsdottir farm?
(a) Kornitas.
(b) Kristin.
(c) Steina.
(d) Sigga.

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

5. How does Reverent Toti's demeanor change toward Agnes from Chapter 3 to Chapter 4?
(a) He decides he must act like a strong man.
(b) He wants her to memorize all the Christian sagas.
(c) He realizes she needs a friend to listen.
(d) He finds her to be repulsive and leaves.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does this story take place?

2. Who is "they" in the following sentence: "They will blow us all out, one by one, until it is only their light by which they are themselves" (Prologue)?

3. Why does Lauga get angry at Steina when the District Commissioner arrives in Chapter 1?

4. What is the real reason Roslin visits her friend, Margret in Chapter 3?

5. What does Agnes contemplate the first day on the Jonsson farm in Chapter 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Agnes argue with Reverend Toti about the meaning of 'truth'" (126)?

2. How does Agnes respond to Reverend Toti's initial comments about prayer and absolution?

3. Agnes thinks, "Here, man. Here is your smile. Is it a good one? Do you see my lips crack? Do you see my teeth" (39)? Why would she say this to an officer?

4. How does Blondal approach the unfortunate situation of a murderer staying with the Jonsdottir family?

5. How does Blondal feel about asking the Assistant Reverend Thorvardur Jonsson to meet with Agnes?

6. How does Margret view Agnes while she is cleaning her?

7. Analyze Agnes' quote, "I can turn to that day as though it were a page in a book. It's written so deeply upon my mind I can almost taste the ink" (132).

8. What happens in Agnes' dream? What's one possible translation? (113).

9. How does Margret express herself to Agnes the first morning?

10. Why does Margret point out the ravens in the sky to Reverend Toti?

(see the answer keys)

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