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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. Why does Kristina wish she had a cat?

2. What does Robert see in a tree that frightens him?

3. Why can Karl not pick up the letter which is waiting for him at the post office?

4. Who had paid for the passage of the man in #125 to America?

5. Who has now proposed to Ulrika?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Robert convince Karl that he can take care of himself?

2. What is Robert's plan for departing California and why does Arvid hesitate to go with him at first?

3. What challenges does Kristina face in feeding her family at their new homestead?

4. How does Karl learn what Anders' secret is?

5. How does Karl get the money to pick up the letter from Sweden?

6. Explain why money is such a source of tension between Karl and Kristina.

7. Why will Karl not allow Kristina borrow the money to pick up the letter from Sweden?

8. Describe some of the challenges that Kristina has in keeping house and caring for her family at the new homestead.

9. Why does Kristina seem to have more tolerance for Ulrika than Karl does?

10. What precautions does Karl take for the family after Robert's experience with the Indian in the woods?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of the quest for a better life will be an important one in the novel. How does the author begin to build this theme? Give examples of the quest for a better life throughout the book.

Essay Topic 2

Project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for Karl Oskar's life. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, and socialization. Will he ever return to Sweden?

Essay Topic 3

Explain Moberg's use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where he did.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,298 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample