O.E. Rölvaag goes out of his way to make you feel just how crazy-vast and open the great American prairies truly are. And nestled in all of this giant vastness are a handful of Norwegian families trying to carve out a new settlement.
It definitely looks like they're fighting the odds, considering how ant-like they seem compared to the giant storms and locust plagues that come their way. But throughout it all, the Norwegians stay brave and vigilant. They take whatever comes their way and do their best to make a life for themselves, even in the face of the abysmal natural world around them and the crushing depression it sometimes causes.
Questions About Man and the Natural World
- On the whole, do you think O.E. Rölvaag describes nature as a positive or a negative force? Why?
- How does Per Hansa's interpretation of the Dakota land differ from Beret's? What does it tell us about their characters?
- Does Per Hansa realize how blind he's being when he thinks of the American prairies as free land for the taking? Does he have the slightest sense that the Native American population might have a claim on the same land? Why or why not?
Chew on This
In Giants in the Earth , we find that nature is basically a cruel and uncaring monster that will destroy humanity whenever it gets the chance.
In Giants in the Earth , Rölvaag criticizes the pride and ignorance of settlers who think that America is theirs for the taking.