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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 Ulrika tell Kristina she is going to do?

2. Who moved to America with Karl and his family?

3. Why do members of the community begin to meet in Petrus' barn?

4. What does Kristina wonder about the Swedes who continue to settle the land around them?

5. What does Karl continue to track over the years?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Robert go when he leaves the house and what does he imagine for a while?

2. What does Robert do when the two brothers argue about Robert, saying he is wealthy now?

3. For what is Jonas famous and what does he tell Karl?

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

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

6. Why does Kristina go to Robert's room in Chapter 18?

7. When did Karl get back from Stillwater in Wildcat Riches and what does he tell Kristina when he gets home?

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

9. What dream does Kristina have about a baby and how does she feel about the dream?

10. What does Kristina's best friend give her and what does she tell her to do with it on the way home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Settlers, like many novels ends on a happy (or at least optimistic) note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of The Settlers and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why The Settlers is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Karl notes that the stove he buys for Kristina is called the "queen" and that the stove has a bearing that is almost regal. However, he says that he has always taken control of all matters related to the outside while Kristina has reigned over the inside. He says that the stove may be called the "queen", but that the reality is that Kristina is the ruler.

1. Do you think Kristina really is the "ruler" in the family? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own knowledge to support your answer.

2. Explain the irony of Karl buying a Christmas present for Kristina which is basically a work tool. What might this say about their lives? Use examples from the text and your own knowledge to support your answer.

3. Considering that Karl is able to vote in elections but Kristina is not, that Karl is the one who decided to bring the family to America and Karl decided what house to build, and so many other issues, do you think Karl is wrong when he says he is ruler only of the outside or does it seem the power is not equal in the relationship? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own knowledge to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

When Kristina's attempts at planting a flower garden fail she thinks she may as well give up on trying. Kristina wasn't looking for flowers for the sake of their beauty as much as she was seeking to plant some flowers that would be the same as she had in Sweden. She takes her inability to make it happen as a sign that she cannot move the things she loved from Sweden to America. This is a continuation Kristina's effort to cling to the life she had in Sweden.

1. How do you think always looking to the past affects one's enjoyment of the present? Use examples from the text and your own knowledge to support your answer.

2. Discuss the symbolism in Kristina attempting to plant the flower garden and it not working. Use examples from the text and your own knowledge to support your answer.

3. In what ways do you think Kristina feels like giving up and not trying? Use examples from the text and your own knowledge to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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