The Defender Quiz – 20 Questions

Introduction

This quiz spans the entire story of The Defender by Nicholas Kalashnikoff. Use it to check your understanding of plot, character motivation, themes, and deeper connections. For more resources, see the book overview, questions and answers, and the ending explained.

Section 1: Plot & Sequence (8 questions)

1. (Multiple Choice)
What event causes the Yakuts to first suspect Turgen of sorcery?
A) He refuses to attend church.
B) He is seen sitting under a larch tree with a wild mountain ram.
C) He heals a sick child using herbs.
D) He builds a yurta far from the village.

2. (Multiple Choice)
Why does Turgen begin bringing hay to the mountain rams?
A) He wants to tame them for trade.
B) The rams are starving in winter and he pities them.
C) The Great Spirit commands him in a dream.
D) Marfa asks him to feed them.

3. (Short Answer)
What name does Turgen give to the lamb he rescues from the crevasse?

4. (Multiple Choice)
How does Turgen scare away the bear that stalks the rams?
A) He shoots it with a gun.
B) He throws rocks at it.
C) He shouts and waves his arms.
D) He sets a trap.

5. (Multiple Choice)
During the wolf attack in Chapter 11, what does the leader ram do?
A) He leads the herd to flee.
B) He charges the first wolf and hurls it over a cliff.
C) He hides among the rocks.
D) He fights the wolves alongside Turgen.

6. (Multiple Choice)
What does Turgen see in his dream after the bear incident?
A) His deceased wife and son lead him to the Great Spirit.
B) The old ram speaks to him.
C) Marfa brings him food.
D) A hunter kills the leader ram.

7. (Short Answer)
What advice does the dream‑guest (the old traveler) give Turgen in Chapter 20?

8. (Multiple Choice)
How does the community react when they learn Turgen will marry Marfa in a Christian ceremony?
A) They boycott the wedding.
B) They accept him and offer gifts.
C) They try to stop the wedding.
D) They ignore the event.

Section 2: Character Motivation (5 questions)

9. (Multiple Choice)
Why does Turgen avoid human company after the death of his wife and son?
A) He hates all people.
B) He is grieving and finds peace alone.
C) He is afraid of being accused of sorcery.
D) He prefers the company of animals to people.

10. (Multiple Choice)
What motivates Marfa to defend Turgen against the village gossip?
A) She hopes to marry him.
B) She is grateful for his help and considers him a true friend.
C) She wants to spite the shamanist.
D) She fears Turgen will curse her family.

11. (Short Answer)
Why does Turgen initially hesitate to propose to Marfa?

12. (Multiple Choice)
Why does Kamov, the merchant, support Turgen’s marriage?
A) He owes Turgen money.
B) He believes Turgen is innocent and wants to help him restore his reputation.
C) He wants to marry Marfa himself.
D) He is a relative of Turgen.

13. (Multiple Choice)
What is Turgen’s primary reason for returning Lad to the wild herd?
A) Lad is too much trouble to care for.
B) He fears a villager might shoot Lad.
C) The Great Spirit orders him to.
D) The old ram demands the lamb back.

Section 3: Theme & Symbol (4 questions)

14. (Multiple Choice)
The wild mountain rams can best be seen as a symbol of:
A) Human greed.
B) Freedom and the natural world worth protecting.
C) The superstition of the Yakuts.
D) The harshness of Siberian winters.

15. (Multiple Choice)
What does the “stone bridge” represent in the story?
A) A physical obstacle that separates man from nature.
B) A dangerous path that requires trust and courage.
C) The connection between the village and the mountains.
D) The boundary between life and death.

16. (Short Answer)
What theme is most clearly illustrated by Turgen’s dream of the Great Spirit under the larch tree?

17. (Multiple Choice)
The phrase “warm human hearts” from the foreword is best understood as:
A) A reference to the harsh climate.
B) A symbol of compassion and kindness that exists everywhere.
C) A description of the rams’ affection.
D) A metaphor for religious faith.

Section 4: Synthesis (3 questions)

18. (Short Answer)
How does Turgen’s relationship with the rams parallel his relationship with the Lamut people, according to his own words?

19. (Multiple Choice)
Which of the following best explains why the narrator (the author’s persona) includes the story of Turgen in his book?
A) To argue that superstition always leads to tragedy.
B) To show that one person’s devotion can create lasting change and inspire others.
C) To document Yakut folklore.
D) To prove that wild animals can be fully domesticated.

20. (Short Answer)
In what way does the ending confirm the teacher Ivan Pavin’s statement that “everywhere there is life and warm human hearts”?

Answer Key

1. B – The sighting of Turgen with a wild ram (a famously timid animal) convinces the superstitious Yakuts that he is a sorcerer. (See Chapter 2.)

2. B – Turgen sees the rams struggling for food in winter and feels pity, so he brings hay. (Chapter 8.)

3. Lad – Turgen names the rescued lamb “Lad” after caring for his wounds. (Chapter 16.)

4. B – Without a gun, Turgen throws rocks to frighten the bear, which then flees. (Chapter 10.)

5. B – The leader ram charges and knocks the first wolf over the cliff, causing the others to flee. (Chapter 11.)

6. A – In his dream his wife and son take him to a heavenly mountain where he meets the Great Spirit. (Chapter 12.)

7. The dream‑guest tells Turgen to ask Marfa and her children to share his yurta, and not to worry about the Yakuts. (Chapter 20.)

8. B – After Kamov spreads the news of the Christian wedding and feast, the valley people accept Turgen and give gifts. (Chapter 28–29.)

9. B – Turgen’s grief leads him to seek solitude; he avoids others but finds comfort in the mountains. (Chapter 1.)

10. B – Marfa values Turgen’s kindness to her children and refuses to let gossip damage their friendship. (Chapter 5.)

11. Turgen fears he is too old for marriage and worries that Marfa and the children will suffer from the Yakuts’ hostility. (Chapter 26.)

12. B – Kamov sees Turgen’s innocence and uses his influence to arrange a church wedding, hoping to end the slander. (Chapter 27.)

13. B – Turgen decides to return Lad because he fears a superstitious villager might shoot the lamb. (Chapter 20.)

14. B – The rams represent wild freedom and the natural world that Turgen feels compelled to protect. (Throughout.)

15. B – The stone bridge is a narrow, dangerous path that the rams cross; it symbolizes trust and the risk of the journey. (Chapter 14.)

16. The dream shows that divine approval comes from caring for God’s creatures, and that goodness unites all beings. (Chapter 12.)

17. B – The foreword’s phrase emphasizes that kindness and compassion can be found anywhere, as the narrator later discovers. (Foreword, Chapter 30.)

18. Turgen says the rams, like the Lamuts, choose to live free and face hardship rather than submit; both are dying out but remain independent. (Chapter 24.)

19. B – The narrator presents Turgen’s story as proof that one person’s faithful stewardship can transform a community and inspire a lasting legacy. (Compare foreword and Chapter 30.)

20. The ending shows Turgen’s promise being kept by Tim and Aksa, the rams multiplying without fear, and the community living in peace—evidence of life and warmth even after hardship. (Chapter 30.)