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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. Which tree agrees to Sampsa's proposal to cut the tree down?

2. What prayer does Lemmenkainen make after his snowshoes break?

3. Who comes after the Water-Mother prays for relief?

4. What reputation does Vainamoinen gain over time?

5. Who helps Vainamoinen complete the tasks so that he can marry?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Vainamoinen tries to help the oak grow?

2. How does Ilmarinen's wife express her distaste for Kullervo?

3. What happens when Joukahainen prepares to hunt down Vainamoinen?

4. What do the people tell the Maid of Pohja about marriage?

5. How does Vainamoinen kill the pike and what does he do with it after he kills it?

6. What happens when Lemminkainen and the Lord of Pohja start a conjuring duel?

7. What happens after Vainamoinen tells the old man the story of the iron?

8. Describe how Vainamoinen and Ilmarinen court the Maid of Pohja.

9. What does the storyteller describe in the introductory stanzas?

10. What happens when Lemminkainen happens upon the home of Louhi on his way to Pohja?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe three transformations in the Kalevala. How do characters change shape or take different forms? Which characters have this ability? Which do not? How would you characterize this power of transformation? Is it merely a narrative ploy, or were there characters in Finnish culture who were once supposed to have had this power?

Essay Topic 2

Do the characters in the Kalevala show personal growth over the course of the tales? Do they simply represent eternal personalities? Are they unchanging gods, or are they human beings who learn and grow? Answer with specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

How does the Kalevala describe women? What range of roles do women play? What range of roles do men play? Is there ever any overlap or play with roles? Is Louhi ever masculine? Is Vainamoinen ever feminine?

(see the answer keys)

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