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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. What does Per Hansa bring back to camp in Book 1, Chapter 1 to appease his wife?

2. How do the settlers celebrate the safe return of the men from town?

3. Who in Per Hansa's family believes the family should travel back east for the winter?

4. What place does Per Hansa hope to find when he leaves the camp in the middle of the night?

5. What is the name of Tonseten's wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are the new people that come upon the Spring Creek settlement in Book 1, Chapter 5 reluctant to stay there? What is Tonseten's response?

2. What is some of Beret's strange behavior that Per Hansa shares with the minister?

3. Why does Per Hansa take a trip to the Sioux River? What does he bring back with him?

4. Describe the weather in Book 1, Chapter 6. How does Beret feel about the whitewashing? What does it have to do with the weather?

5. What do the settlers do to try to help Hans Olsa when he is on his death bed?

6. Why do the Solum boys want to travel back East for the winter? What do they ask of Per Hansa and what is his reaction?

7. Who has a problem with Per Hansa's house? Why? What does this character do when Per Hansa ignores his advice?

8. What do Hans Olsa, Tonseten and Harry Solum bring back from their trip to town? What is the atmosphere of the settlement when the men return?

9. What does the woman who has been tied in the back of the wagon do while she is at Per Hansa's house?

10. Why does Tonseten need to talk to the minister in private?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme or struggle of man versus nature is present in the novel in many ways. Discuss the struggle within the novel. How does nature dictate the success of the men? How does it dictate their daily lives? How are the men successful despite the forces of nature? Explain using examples.

Essay Topic 2

Giants in the Earth is full of lush description and vivid imagery. Discuss this imagery, using several examples from the book. Where and how does the author use devices such as personification, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, etc.? How do they add to the novel? What impact do they have on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's success in realistically displaying pioneer life in the mid 1800s. Are there any parts of pioneer life that the author did not discuss? What does this novel teach us about the trials of pioneer life? What do the characters teach us about the value of life and following our dreams?

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