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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 the narrator recognize the cake-seller working?

2. What language does the sailor on board the Copégoro speak?

3. What is the Chief doing at the pier?

4. Who stops the landlady from evicting the narrator into the night?

5. What does the landlady give to the narrator that he refuses?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does the narrator decide to live?

2. How does Queeny say he knows Ylayali?

3. Why do you think Ylayali is disappointed in the narrator?

4. Why exactly does the narrator refuse the Chief's offer of an advance?

5. What happens to the narrator that makes him aware of his mental sluggishness?

6. What happens to make the narrator lose faith in his play?

7. What happens when the narrator goes to the grocer's to ask for a candle on credit?

8. Why does the narrator put himself in view of The Chief?

9. Why is the narrator moved into the family room?

10. What happens when the narrator is finally kicked out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Towards the end of the novel, desecration becomes a central theme, both in the narrator's thoughts and in events. Discuss the symbolism used by Knut Hamsun. Is the final desecration of his pride an inevitable conclusion to the novel? What do you think are the author's opinions on this pride?

Essay Topic 2

How does the narrator's pride doom him to failure? What does his working on a ship at the end of the novel show about his pride? What devices does Knut Hamsun use to explore the narrator's pride?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

(see the answer keys)

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