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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. Who is talking at the start of Section 2?

2. What does Rosa tell Bjartur she is craving in Section 1?

3. What is Book One titled?

4. What are the Bernotus Rhymes?

5. What does the southern traveler bring to Asta in Section 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Sollilja's feelings about town change once she goes there in Section 2?

2. How is the Bailiff of Myri's wife described in Section 1?

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

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

5. How does Bjartur express his connection to his dog in Section 1?

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

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

8. Who is Gunvor?

9. Who is Ingolfur Arnarson?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between the Bailiff and Bjartur is complicated. Track their relationship and analyze its dynamic.

Essay Topic 2

How does the theme of "self vs. community" manifest in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the theme of death in the novel. What is Laxness suggesting about death and its causes?

(see the answer keys)

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