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 was a cherished event in family life when Dinesen was growing up?

2. Dinesen became interested in Georg Brandes and ______________________.

3. With whom did Dinesen fall in love?

4. Dinesen's mother came from a family of ___________________.

5. Why did Dinesen not feel as if she needed to be faithful to Bror?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe the contentious relationship Dinesen had with her brother, Thomas?

3. Describe Dinesen's relationship with her sisters.

4. How did Dinesen's father, Wilhelm, live his life and why did he commit suicide at the age of 50?

5. Why was Dinesen so prolific in her condemnation of racism and prejudice against the Kenyan people?

6. Explain why Dinesen was drawn to the feminist movement of the early 20th century.

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

8. Why did Dinesen have difficulty fitting in with the aristocratic landowners in Africa?

9. Where did Dinesen study art formally and why was the experience disappointing for her?

10. When and where was Isak Dinesen born and by what other names was she known?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the cultural climate in Europe in the mid-20th century and why Dinesen's work did not always meet with overwhelming acceptance. How did the perception of Dinesen's work change as the years passed? What was the reception of Dinesen's work in America? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Bror Blixen. What did he look like? What was his family background? What were his positive personality traits? What were some of his negative characteristics? What were his hopes and fears? What were his primary motivations during his life?

Essay Topic 3

It is said that a writer writes what he knows and an artist creates what he knows. What does this statement mean? Did Dinesen write about what she knew? Give three examples to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,007 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample