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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 does Vainamoinen go fishing for in part 5?

2. What condition is the Water-Mother trying to find relief from?

3. What occasion marks the end of Lemminkainen and Kyllikki's happiness?

4. What does the Storyteller tell us in the first stanzas?

5. What are Joukahainen's stories like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Ilmarinen tried to fashion a new wife for himself?

2. What tasks does the Maid of Pohja demand of Vainamoinen when he proposes to her?

3. How does Ilmarinen fix the destruction caused by the light the Creator sent down to earth when the sun and moon were stolen?

4. What happens after Kullervo slaughters Untamo's family?`

5. How does Kullervo end up being sold to Ilmarinen?

6. What does Kullervo do when he discovers Ilmarinen's wife's disdain for him?

7. What happens when Ilmarinen finds that his new bride has amused herself with another man while Ilmarinen was sleeping?

8. How does Louhi ensure that there will be enough beer?

9. How is Lemminkainen entertained at the wedding?

10. What happens when Vainamoinen disapproves of Joukahainen's stories?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

On several occasions, characters lie about their intentions before they finally tell the truth. What role does lying play in the Kalevala, and how do characters arrive at the truth? How are characters tricked or misled? Is misdirection always found out, or do characters get away with their lies? Cite examples from the text as you answer.

Essay Topic 2

What rules govern hospitality in the Kalevala? Are guests expected to follow a certain code? Are hosts? What ties and what obligations bind them? Cite examples from the Kalevala to describe the guest-host bond in the Kalevala.

Essay Topic 3

What glimpses do you get into the everyday lives of the Finns who composed the Kalevala? What was their life like? What did they value, and what were they afraid of? What technologies did they have? What gods did they believe in? What customs did they follow?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 932 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample