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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. Håkan finds out from a sailor that the land he sees from the ship is part of what location?

2. At one point when Håkan is feverish and delusional, he awakens next to what type of dead animal?

3. Who directs the preparation of the medicine to heal the person ill with fever?

4. The novel's prologue depicts a group of men aboard a ship with what name?

5. The narrator refers to the man at the head of the nefarious convoy by using what term?

Short Essay Questions

1. What method does Håkan's father Erik use to obtain the money to send his sons to America?

2. How does Håkan end up on a ship ultimately bound for California, when he had been headed for New York City?

3. Describe the distinctive opening of Chapter 6 and its use of sensory details.

4. How does Håkan feel about his older brother Linus?

5. Who is Lorimer and what are three of his characteristics?

6. Discuss an instance when the theme of collectivism appears within the novel.

7. Who are the Brennans and how does Håkan become involved with them?

8. What coping mechanism does Håkan employ in order to get his fear under control and what is its level of effectiveness??

9. Describe Håkan's experiences in Clangston.

10. As Håkan's first summer away from his family comes to a close, what is said to be "all Håkan could think of" (40)?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Diaz’s use of metaphor, simile, imagery, and other literary devices as a means to send particular thematic messages within the narrative of In the Distance.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of In the Distance and analyze Diaz’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how and why Diaz instills three different humanist messages into the narrative of In the Distance.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,265 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample