1. I think that Alexandra's sense of responsibility and Carl's love of freedom make a perfect balance. While Carl would give up many things for freedom, Alexandra's responsible streak would keep them grounded. Carl's intelligence works with Alexandra's courage to help them get though the harder parts of their relationship.2. After reading this book, I don't think it is really Ivar that was feared or hated, but his beliefs and the fact that he was different. Ivar represented the old ways of doing things, and that was the way that the others were trying to get away from. Deep inside, the others might have also been envious of his nonchalant attitude towards what others thought of him.3. From the beginning of the story it was clear t ...view middle of the document...
Their hatred and jealousy grows until the end of the book, when they are no longer speaking to eachother.4. Marie is a woman full of joy and hope. Alexandra is full of courage and intelligence. Marie is caught in an unhappy marriage with a once-charming man, who has turned more jealous and unstable by the year. Marie can't help thinking about the sweet neighbor boy she grew up with, and turns to him for support. As the romance grows, Emil leaves to Mexico in hope that he will forget about the forbidden love, Marie. When he returns he finds he loves her more than ever and when they are re-united, they are killed together by Marie's husband Frank. Alexandra is the most intellectual of her siblings, and was entrusted with the family land. As she grows steadily older, she finds Carl and falls in a strangely un-romantic love with him. Though it is frowned upon by family, she overcomes obstacles with him and they are planned to be married. I think that Marie and Alexandra had similar outlooks upon life on the prairie, and tried hard to deal with what was going on with them. As is the case in many stories, the passionate forbidden love was the short one, and the steady somewhat boring love was the one to work out. So as Alexandra was in charge of molding her own her father and spoiled growing up coddled personality through her personal experiences, Marie, this could be the reason for her fate.5. B. I think that by the time Frank killed his wife and Emil, he was not completely sane. Usually when intensely passionately moments of fear or anger occur, no thoughts go through your head. I imagine Frank seeing white and red, and thinking over and over "Betrayal"