F.A.S.T The Gift from Frigga

How does the mountainous setting of the myth contribute to the development of the plot?

• It presents the shepherd with dangers that he must overcome.

• It prevents the shepherd and his wife from earning much money.

• It causes challenges that result in a conflict between the shepherd and his wife.

• It creates the opportunity for the shepherd to discover Frigga’s cavern.

Answer explanation

The setting allows for the discovery of Frigga’s secret glacier and cavern.

Read the Greek origins of the root and suffix that make up the word stalactite.

stalaktos: dripping, trickling

-ite: connected with, belonging to

Which is the best definition of the meaning of the word stalactites as it is used in paragraph 3?

• leaks from the roof or ceiling

• hanging rocks from the roof of a cave

• connected to a water ecosystem

• belonging with a stream or creek

Answer explanation

Stalactites are rock features in caves, formed by trickling water droplets.

Which themes are contrasted throughout the passage?

• The kindness of some goddesses and the happiness that can come from a humble life.

• The difficulty of a farming lifestyle and the rewards of industrial manufacturing.

• The extreme power of a goddess and the constant fragility of humankind.

• The brief time of human life and the eternal life of gods and goddesses.

Answer explanation

These two themes are explicitly stated at the end of the passage.

Read paragraph 9.

Sometimes the good man stood in the twilight looking over his field. There he imagined that he saw a misty form, like the beautiful goddess, stretching out her hands over the field of flax, to give it her blessing.

How does the simile “like the beautiful goddess,” affect the tone of the paragraph?

• By developing a casual tone of friendship

• By developing a tone of fear of divine power

• By creating a mystical tone of divine influence

• By creating a tone of natural beauty in the field

Read paragraph 3.

The passageway widened out into a wonderful cavern like a broad hall, sparkling with precious stones and long, shining stalactites that looked like icicles of marble. In the midst stood a beautiful goddess. Surrounding her were fair maidens, all dressed in silvery robes and crowned with flowers.

What tone is expressed by the figurative language in this paragraph?

• danger at the goddess’ power

• amazement at natural beauty

• simple functionality

• frivolous waste

Which word or phrase supports the answer amazement at natural beauty is the tone expressed through the figurative language.

• “widened out”

• “like a broad hall”

• “like icicles of marble”

• “dressed in silvery robes”

Answer explanation

The simile “like icicles of marble” creates a tone of amazement at natural beauty

Read paragraph 11.

The farmer and his wife lived many happy years and grew old among their children and grandchildren. The peasant noticed one day that the bunch of blue flax flowers, given to him so many years before, and which had always been bright, were beginning to fade; then he knew he had not much longer to stay. One day, when the warm sun shone and gentle wind blew softly on the remains of his fields, the old farmer took his walking staff and left the home he’d known for so many years.

Which of the following inferences is supported by this paragraph?

• The farmer is tired of his simple life.

• The farmer’s life is nearing its end.

• The farmer’s fields are no longer able to grow crops.

• The farmer is about to run out of money.

Answer explanation

The phrase “he had not much longer to stay” implies he is near death.

Select two details from the text that support the idea that Frigga represents kindness and love.

• “In the midst stood a beautiful goddess. Surrounding her were fair maidens, all dressed in silvery robes and crowned with flowers.” (paragraph 3)

• “Then the goddess stretched out her hands and gave him her blessing, telling him to choose whatever gift he wished to carry home from the cavern.” (paragraph 4)

• “The peasant bowed thankfully before the goddess, and when he rose she had vanished.” (paragraph 6)

• “When at length the seeds had ripened, Frigga came again to show the peasant how to gather his harvest of flax.“ (paragraph 10)

• “They teach us that a long life of hard work earns its many rewards.” (paragraph 13)

Answer explanation

Frigga reappears to help the farmer and his wife use the gift to earn extensive wealth, again demonstrating her kindness.

The fact that Frigga chooses to grant the peasant a gift demonstrates her kindness.