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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 many Norday men are put on the list to be sent as seamen on His Majesty's men-of-war?

2. How does the laird describe Norday Island to his factor in chapter 5?

3. Who from Norday volunteers to fight for King George II against the French?

4. What do the Scottish and Irish laborers do when they arrive?

5. When the original Hall burns down, where does the laird stay that winter?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Major Schneider?

2. What does Thorfinn do when he returns to the island after the war?

3. Why did the hippies finally leave Norday Island?

4. Who was Revd Hector Drummond and what was he like?

5. What is happening to both the laird's house and the minister's manse in chapter 5?

6. How does Thorfinn see Sophie that very first time?

7. How does Mara react when a seal is captured and killed by the fishermen?

8. Who is Sophie?

9. Why does the seal girl, Mara, not follow the seal-people into the sea?

10. What kind of food does Mara the seal wife like to eat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a detailed character study of Thorfinn. How is he introduced? What are the major obstacles placed in the path of this protagonist? How does he evolve through the book? What does he learn and how does he change?

Essay Topic 2

How would you describe the writing style of this book? Historical fiction? Poetry? Lyrical fiction? Is it a combination of several styles? Describe the style and find examples in the book of this style.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on the idea of a muse, in both ancient Greek literature and here, in chapter 5. How does Sophie function as a muse? Find one example of an ancient Greek muse and compare her to that example.

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