Essay Questions

Why are Sámi reindeer herders at first reluctant to accept Christianity?

Sámi reindeer herders are traditionalists, and they believe in their ancient gods. The first time the Sámi reindeer herders hear Lars’ preaching, they become suspicious of his intentions. According to most Sámi reindeer herders, Lars wants to use Christianity to colonize them and erode their culture, something they are not ready to accept.

How does Hanna Pylväinen explore the theme of optimism in The End of Drum-Time?

Optimism is one of the major themes in The End of Drum-Time. Despite the unwillingness of the Sámi reindeer herders to convert to Christianity, Lars remains buoyant and pushes his agenda until one senior member of the herders' community converts to Christianity. Later, the rest of the herders convert to Christianity, and Lars achieves his goal. Consequently, the author depicts Lars as a confident man of God who does not stop at anything until he achieves his goals.

What is the conflict between Lars and his daughter?

Lars is a church minister who raises his daughter according to Christian doctrines, and he expects her to follow the steps of Christ. When Lars relocates to the Arctic Circle to introduce Christianity to locals, he moves in with his daughter. While in the Arctic Circle, Lars' daughter falls in love with a young reindeer harder. When Lars tries to tell his daughter that she is doing evil by getting married without following church regulations, she becomes rebellious and rude. Lars becomes disappointed because his obedient daughter and God-fearing has become ungovernable because of love.