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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. Jarvis proudly shows Håkan his pistol that shoots how many bullets without a reload?

2. What weapons are the armed men brandishing when they confront Håkan in the street?

3. What item does Håkan remember that he has left behind in the village?

4. Håkan is adamant when he tells Asa what information?

5. What aspect of Håkan's collection delights him the most?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the way in which Håkan views the event he consistently calls "the killings" (130) throughout the narrative.

2. In what way is the sheriff's corruption the key to Håkan's freedom?

3. What item does Håkan attempt to procure from the people traveling in the caravan train and what is the outcome?

4. What characteristic of Asa makes a deep impression on Håkan?

5. Why are the onlookers at the wagon accident at first unwilling to accept Håkan's help?

6. Who is Jarvis?

7. What event leads to Håkan's first experience of an emotion "other than pain and guilt" (140) since the killings?

8. How does the theme of grief enter the narrative when Håkan attempts to buy a certain item from members of the caravan?

9. For what purpose does Diaz employ character foils within Håkan's period of captivity?

10. Which of the five senses does Håkan most strongly associate with the presence of humans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Determine the ways in which Diaz’s novel In the Distance displays the characteristics of the literary style of Naturalism.

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

How is the topic of isolation treated within In the Distance and how does its treatment relate to the novel's depicted messages?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,155 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample