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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. How old is Karl in Chapter 8?

2. To whom does Karl write a letter at the end of Chapter 11?

3. Who is Arvid?

4. Whose scriptural interpretations does Kristina sometimes question?

5. What has Karl planted for use in the future for clothing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Karl meet in the forest and what does he do after he meets the man?

2. How does Kristina relate her worry to God?

3. What does Robert tell Kristina about death and predestination?

4. What does Karl tell Kristina after Persson comes to dinner and what does the church warden in Sweden have to do with America?

5. What has happened to Kristina that makes her worry and wonder how Karl will react?

6. How did Robert get out of the desert and where do he and Mario go after the desert incident? What happens to Mario there?

7. What does Karl write in his letter to his parents?

8. How does Ulrika feel about having a baby girl?

9. What does Karl tell Robert about the money and what is Robert's response?

10. What does Karl want to do about the money and what is Kristina's opinion?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Kristina is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations where Kristina demonstrates her fear and hopelessness. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Kristina's character flaws and explain how they create a more complex and believable character. How do you think Kristina's character flaws make some situations more difficult for her?

3. After analyzing Kristina's strengths and weaknesses, decide if Kristina is the "hero" of the story. Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 2

The Settlers is written in the genre of historical fiction. Discuss the following:

1. What sets historical fiction apart from other genres? Discuss several characteristics of historical fiction that are absent in other genres and vice verse.

2. Some people might say that historical fiction is merely for entertainment? Do you agree? Explain.

3. Discuss why The Settlers falls under the genre of historical fiction.

4. Why do you think literary criticism breaks down fiction into genres? Do you think the labeling of genre to a work is useful to a reader? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of change. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with change? Why? What are some symbols of change? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of mental/emotional illness. Which characters struggle with some sort of emotional illness? Why? Which characters seem really healthy emotionally/mentally? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death. How did the death of Arvid affect Robert? What about Robert's death? How was Karl's reaction to both deaths similar and different?

4. Discuss why the Nilssons moving to America was a type of death for the Nilsson family. Use examples from the book to illustrate your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

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