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 did most of Dinesen's fans think she was?

2. Dinesen gained a reputation as one of the most ______________________.

3. What did Dinesen do after being at home in Denmark for awhile?

4. What was one of the reasons that Dinesen's stories were so well received?

5. Which of the following does NOT describe Denys?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Dinesen feel that Bjornvig needed to suffer through his studies in Germany?

2. How did Dinesen help the Danish Resistance movement during the war?

3. Why was Dinesen considered to be a controversial celebrity?

4. How did Dinesen's relationship with Denys initially work well for both of them?

5. How did Dinesen fare when trying to run the coffee plantation on her own and why was her temporary return to Denmark not a positive move for her?

6. What is known about the depths of despair Dinesen experienced after the loss of the coffee plantation and how did Deny's death, ironically, free her in a way?

7. How did Denys die and why was his death especially painful for Dinesen?

8. Who was Thorkild Bjornvig, and what role did he play in Dinesen's life?

9. What occupied most of Denys' time in 1928, and how did Dinesen feel about it?

10. Why did Bjornvig leave Dinesen after four years together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of independence is an important one in Dinesen's life and in her work. Describe how it extends through setting, subjects, technique, etc. and provide examples for each.

Essay Topic 2

Independence takes on an almost human persona in this book. What was the source of the depiction of independence in so much of Dinesen's life? How strong were Dinesen's feelings and need for independence? What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample