View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What small gift does Asta buy for herself in town?

2. How many hours a day do the children work in Section 2?

3. Who is talking at the start of Section 2?

4. What is Myri?

5. Who is Tilta?

Short Essay Questions

1. As the start of Section 2, what secret does Nonni reveal to his Granny?

2. What do Bjartur and Rosa argue about on their way back to Summerhouse in Section 1?

3. Who is Ingolfur Arnarson?

4. Who is Bukolla and how does she impact the family in Section 2?

5. What does Bjartur tell Asta Sollilja about Rosa in Section 2, and is he being honest?

6. What do Rosa and Bjartur argue about during their first night back at Summerhouse?

7. The novel opens with a story of Kolumkilli. Why would the author open with this story?

8. How is Asta Sollilja described in Section 2?

9. What is the state of Summerhouse by the end of Section 2?

10. In Section 1, how are the conversations between the men and women different on Bjartur and Rosa's wedding day?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select one of the many songs or poems in the novel and analyze its meaning.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the relationship between Nonni and Finna. How could her death impact her youngest child?

Essay Topic 3

What role does Christianity play in the novel? Consider which characters might represent Christianity and which might represent other religions.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,083 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample