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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. How old was Dinesen when her father died?

2. With which relative did Dinesen develop a conflict?

3. Which of the following does NOT describe Bror?

4. Why did Dinesen's maternal family oppose her interest in the men in #25?

5. What was the nature of the relationship between Dinesen and Thomas?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Dinesen not feel any remorse about having an affair with Denys Finch Hatton?

2. Who was Daisy Frijs and why was Dinesen drawn to her?

3. What type of writing did Dinesen produce as a young woman, and what pen name did she use?

4. How did Dinesen's childhood influence her writing, and what important theme would emerge?

5. Describe Dinesen's relationship with her sisters.

6. In addition to diseases, what were some of the losses that Dinesen suffered in her life that made her health fail in 1923?

7. What was the nature of the conflict between Dinesen and her Aunt Bess?

8. What mental affliction might Dinesen have suffered from and what was the main symptom?

9. How did Hans Blixen's rejection of Dinesen ironically work in her favor in terms of what her Aunt Bess wanted for her?

10. What decision did Dinesen make to end her period of indecisiveness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the overall setting and time period for Isak Dinesen's young adulthood? What was Denmark like during this time period? How important are the time period and setting to the attitudes and issues of Dinesen, her family and friends?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the impact that Isak Dinesen had on the world of literature in the 20th century. How was her work perceived? What did she give up in order to create? How did she feel about her own work? How is Dinesen perceived today on the world stage of literature?

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Thomas Dinesen. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were some of his negative characteristics? What do we know of him? What were his hopes and fears? What were his primary motivations during his life?

(see the answer keys)

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