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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Reverend Bjarnason stop by the Jonsortti farm in Chapter 9?
(a) He wants to ensure the family is still going to church.
(b) He wants to ensure that Agnes is not poisoning the girls' minds.
(c) He wants to ensure the family is in the soul register of Underfell's parish.
(d) He wants to ask the family about their daily spiritual rituals.

2. What is Natan out doing when Agnes first arrives at his home to live?
(a) Fishing.
(b) Visiting a friend.
(c) Fox-hunting.
(d) Conducting business.

3. When Reverend Toti shares Blondal's advice about his spiritual counseling in Chapter 7, how does Agnes respond?
(a) Blondal is only out to get the murderers, because it will make him look good.
(b) Blondal doesn't care about anyone but himself, and he is a phony when it comes to religion.
(c) Blondal likes only one thing better than religious tellings, and that is giving orders.
(d) Blondal likes only one thing better than religious chastisement, and that is the sound of his own voice.

4. What happens to the baby after Inga gives birth?
(a) It is crying so hard that the family has to leave it outside.
(b) It is handed to Agnes to hold.
(c) It is given away, because they do not have enough money.
(d) It is given milk and a warm bed.

5. What is one of the first things Agnes shares with the Reverend in Chapter 6?
(a) "I was only five years old" (135).
(b) "Death happened, and in the usual way that it happens, and yet, not like anything else at all" (135).
(c) "One night the two of us were working in the badstofa with Inga" (135).
(d) "I tried to call Pappi also, but he didn't like it (135).

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Agnes decide to go where she does after being kicked out of Natan's house?

2. As described in Chapter 11, what does Natan do to Agnes when he returns home?

3. What angers Fridrik and begins the motive for killing Natan, as described in Chapter 11?

4. Where does Agnes go after not being able to live in Natan's cowshed, as described in Chapter 11?

5. How does Agnes feel about living in Illugstadir after arriving?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Agnes believe that she may have been friends with Poet-Rosa under different circumstances?

2. How does Agnes feel when she discerns that Sigga has the position of housekeeper?

3. How does Margret make a rejoinder to Agnes revealing that she has no mother?

4. How does Agnes describe her feelings and relationship with Natan after having a dream?

5. Why does Reverend return to Agnes, even though he is sick?

6. Why does Margret worry about the relationship she is fostering with Agnes?

7. How does Agnes reply to Reverend Toti's absence?

8. What revelation did Agnes come to after examining her little sister's death?

9. Ravens are a common theme throughout the story. What do the ravens represent in the following scenario? Agnes turned away after finding Fridrik kicking Natan's dead sheep outside. She felt this was only the beginning of a more violent incident to come. "I turned around ... and saw a raven descent upon the sheep. It gave a mournful caw and then plunged its beak into the innards" (267). The ravens brutally attacked an already dead animal right after Agnes sees Fridrik committed the same act.

10. In Poet-Rosa's poem to Natan Ketilsson, what overall message does she convey to him?

(see the answer keys)

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