Giants in the Earth Group

Question:

norwegian
norwegian
Teacher
Community / Jr. College

In Ole Rolvaag's novel, Giants in the Earth, a reference is made to Peder being born with a "victory cowl."  What is that? 

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Posted by norwegian on Friday October 30, 2009 at 8:53 AM and tagged with character, characterization, giants in the earth, peder victorious, rolvaag, victory cowl.

Answers:


  1. lynn30k Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Being born with a "victory cowl" (caul), or being "born with a veil", means that the baby is born with some of the membranes of the placenta over the head and face. There were many superstitions about such babies--that they were lucky, psychic, or could have dreams that predicted the future. I was born this way--and I figured the luck was that I didn't suffocate!

    Sources:
    http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/97897/why_are_so...

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    Posted by lynn30k on Friday October 30, 2009 at 7:58 PM