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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. Håkan fears that what element will result in the deaths of the convoy members?

2. When Håkan regains consciousness after his period of feverish wandering, he finds himself in what state inside a covered wagon?

3. By whose hand have the people been massacred when the convoy hears about them up ahead?

4. What is Lorimer's first instinct at the news of the massacre up ahead?

5. How many days' notice do Linus and Håkan get from Erik before they leave for America?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss an instance when the theme of collectivism appears within the novel.

2. Describe Håkan's family situation, as it is depicted once the body of the narrative begins.

3. What similarity between Native American and Swedish culture does Håkan identify?

4. What major character change does Håkan undergo against his will as a result of his association with Lorimer?

5. In what location does the prologue of the novel take place?

6. What is distinctive about the large man's coat and what conclusions are drawn about it?

7. Describe a time in the narrative when a metaphor is used to indicate a particular mood.

8. Describe the distinctive opening of Chapter 6 and its use of sensory details.

9. Who is Lorimer and what are three of his characteristics?

10. How does Håkan end up on a ship ultimately bound for California, when he had been headed for New York City?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sensory details are used frequently by Diaz in order to create vivid pictures of each character's progression through the narrative of In the Distance. Choose three scenes in which sensory details are heavily used and discuss how the sensory details used serve Diaz’s creation of vivid characters to populate the narrative.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of In the Distance and analyze Diaz’s purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

How is the topic of isolation treated within In the Distance and how does its treatment relate to the novel's depicted messages?

(see the answer keys)

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