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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. Why did Dinesen feel abandoned by Denys in 1928?

2. What did Dinesen try to do after Bror left?

3. Sometimes Denys would show Dinesen movies about __________________.

4. Where did Dinesen live during World War II?

5. Who helped Dinesen manage through her illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. How did the syphilis take its toll on Dinesen, and who helped her through this difficult time?

3. How did Dinesen and Denys live during their relationship?

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

5. In what ways did Dinesen suffer after her departure from Africa?

6. How well did Dinesen adapt to her return to Denmark?

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

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

9. How does the New Year's Day killing of two lions differ in reality from the way Dinesen portrayed it in "outof Africa"?

10. To what does the author draw parallels with Dinesen's work during middle age?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Project a life for Isak Dinesen which she would have had if Hans Blixen had returned her romantic affection? How would her life had extended? How would her life have been different if she had entered into a marriage of love and not one of convenience?

Essay Topic 2

The author points out more than one iteration on the theme of disappointment. Identify at least two examples which either embody or create disappointment then cite an example to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the impact that Dinesen's childhood had on her as an adult. What were the expectations for young women growing up in Denmark during the early 1900s? How did Dinesen reject most of what was expected of her? How did Dinesen use her childhood experiences to help in the creation of her life's work?

(see the answer keys)

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