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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 year is it when Karl yields his largest crop?

2. How many days does it take for Kristina's delirium to break?

3. What makes Karl forget about the Sioux Indian scare for periods of time?

4. Karl builds a coffin for Kristina with boards that had been intended for what?

5. Who is Klas Albert?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Indian cliff take on a more threatening presence as the Indian attacks increase?

2. How does Karl embarrass his sons sometimes when he speaks now that he is older?

3. Why is Ulrika upset at her son's choice of occupation?

4. What are Karl's feelings about God after the death of Kristina?

5. Why does Karl decide to send wheat back to Sweden and why does he send his best crop?

6. How does the changing Indian cliff serve as a metaphor for the sorrows of the Sioux Indians?

7. How does Ulrika reveal to Karl that she donated the bridal crown to the village church?

8. What injury does Karl sustain that will plague him for the rest of his life?

9. What is Karl's perspective on God since he has sustained his injury?

10. What things does Karl tell Lydia in last letter to her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the setting at the beginning of the novel. Does the author paint a complete picture for the reader? What, if anything, is missing?

Essay Topic 3

Karl spends some alone time throughout the novel to contemplate his life. What does he think about? What conclusions does he arrive at? Explain why he is in a contemplative mood at this point in time.

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