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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. What was the name of the book which Dinesen worked on during World War II?

2. What did Dinesen believe about her relationship with Bjornvig?

3. What made Dinesen think about emigrating from Denmark during the war?

4. What was one of Dinesen's routine activities?

5. Why did Dinesen go to Berlin in 1940?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of drugs did Dinesen become addicted to and how did they make her behave?

2. How was Dinesen's independent life in conflict with the norms for women in the early 20th century?

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

4. How was Dinesen conflicted about which role to pursue in her life?

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

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

7. What are some reasons that Dinesen's work was so well received during her lifetime?

8. In what ways was Dinesen alienated from her own people during the war?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of Wilhelm Dinesen. What did he look like? 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

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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