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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 Halldor give Bolli?

2. Where is Kjartan ambushed?

3. When a boy comes to report to the men at the estate, what does Helgi realize?

4. Who kills Helgi?

5. What does Gudrun ask Thorgils to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Olaf the Peacock do after Kjartan's death?

2. How does the family feud end?

3. Describe Thorgils Holluson.

4. What is Gudrun willing to offer Thorgils and in exchange of what?

5. What does Bolli want to know about Gudrun's relationships?

6. What does Helgi do to Gudrun?

7. What happens to Gellir in the final chapters of the book?

8. When Kjartan and Bolli arrive in Norway, what does King Olaf do to Kjartan?

9. What is the final prophecy regarding Gudrun?

10. When Kjartan refuses a gift from Bolli, what ensues?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of women in medieval Scandinavia in the twelfth century when the women in the Laxdaela Saga are living their lives. What precedents do they feel compelled to follow? What restrictions do they have? What freedoms, if any, did they have that 21st century women do not have?

Essay Topic 2

Certain relationships create a good foundation for social structure in the Laxdaela Saga. When Snorri tells Gudrun who to marry, Gudrun follows his advice, spurning her other suitor. They both interact in a very convincing manner. Describe why this relationship is believable.

Essay Topic 3

Bolli and Kjartan are two of the most active characters.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Bolli had a direct influence upon? What are some events that Kjartan had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support to family members and how? Which one is stronger and in what way?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 770 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample