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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who helps the young maiden brew beer?

2. What does the Lord of Pohja offer Lemminkainen after Lemminkainen complains about the food?

3. How does Kullervo perform his tasks on the family farm?

4. Whom does Louhi capture and lock up in a cave?

5. What happens on the first morning when Ilmarinen wakes up next to the woman he created?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which parts of these tales are particular to their culture and their times? Which parts of these tales are eternal and apply to every human being? Using examples from the text, describe the culture that created these tales. And describe the timeless human nature that created the other parts of them.

Essay Topic 2

What role does marriage and courtship play in the Kalevala? Cite three instances of marriage or courtship and describe the consequences of each. Does marriage settle or unsettle relationships between characters? Is it promising or threatening? What is at stake when someone proposes marriage?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 295 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample