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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. Who does Fridrik court, as described in Chapter 11?

2. What is the first question Agnes asked Sigga upon meeting her?

3. What kind of relationship develops between Agnes and Natan after she moves to his farm?

4. Who was young Agnes hearing calling to her from the storehouse, in her memory described in Chapter 6?

5. Why does Agnes think that Natan loved Rosa, as described in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why did Natan sleep in Sigga's bed when he knew Agnes was awake?

4. Why does Agnes not believe that Steina and her have anything real in common?

5. After realizing that her sister was dead, what was Agnes' reaction?

6. How does Agnes describe the Northern Lights her foster-father showed her?

7. How did Agnes feel after her baby sister was born?

8. 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.

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

10. What was Agnes' first impression of Sigga when she arrives at Illugastadir?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

To what extent does Reverend Toti fulfill his task of bringing Agnes to God? Give two examples of when he is successful and two of when he failed.

Essay Topic 2

How does Reverend Toti's father react to him being a spiritual advisor? Even if he does not specifically reference his son's choice, there are many instances where it is quite obvious that he has a formidable opinion. Do you agree/disagree with his judgment? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Paraphrase the following quotes and examine what they say about the human condition. What does a person want from life and what is lacking?

(Agnes) "I expected him (Reverend Toti) to understand me from the start. I want him to understand me, but I'm a fool to think we speak the same tongue. I may as well be talking to him with a stone in my mouth, trying to find a language that we both understand" (115).

(Agnes) "Toti wishes to hear about my family, but what I have told him has not been what he wants to hear. He must not be used to gnarled trees that grow in this valley, where the branches rope about one another, studded with thorns" (115).

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