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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 is the primary image of "The Song of the Broch?"

2. How does the lord of Norday greet the ragged Norweigan sailors?

3. What happens when Fergus tries to break into the broch?

4. When are the brochs first built in the Orkney islands?

5. Why can't the Vikings return to Sweden?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the title of chapter 3 refer to?

2. What are some of the things that village people buy at Isa Estquoy's shop on Norday Island?

3. Why are the children bored on the field trip to the broch?

4. What reaction does Jacob's wife, Rena, have to arriving on Norday Island?

5. What do the family and friends of Jacob Olafson do when the old man dies?

6. Why is Mr. Simon's lesson on Bannockburn so boring?

7. What does the poorest man in Norday believe politically?

8. When and where does Old Jacob Olafson die?

9. When Jacob Olafson returns from his great adventure, what does he bring and what does he find?

10. Why does Thorfinn not know what the circular ruin is that stands on the shore a mere half mile from his home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Make a list of all the imaginative stories. What is the place of Thorfinn in each? How does his fictional character evolve? What does he learn (briefly) from each dream adventure?

Essay Topic 2

Food is a strong theme in the book. Food is a very clear way to evoke a cultural tradition. Find some examples of Brown's use of food, in both the present day Norday story and the dreams. Describe the way Brown uses food and how it is used to bring the reader into the time and place of the characters.

Essay Topic 3

The style of writing a story within a story is somewhat unique. What does this literary device allow the author to reveal about his main character, Thorfinn? Why doesn't he simply write a book of imaginative stories? How is this double layer of reality different? How does it affect the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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