• Dinesen sets "The Ring" in a specific location: rural Denmark during the early 1800s. This setting is preindustrial, with a manorial, if not feudal, social structure, and is heavily bound by tradition. In other words, it's difficult to imagine a more insular environment. Discuss why the story's themes have universal implications despite being set in such a localized setting.

• Examine the imagery in the scene where Lovisa meets the thief in the glade. Pay close attention to Dinesen's choice of words and how she portrays Lovisa's state of mind as the point-of-view character.

• There has been much discussion about the sexual undertones in "The Ring." What hints in the story might reveal aspects of the erotic dynamic in Lovisa and Sigismund's marriage? Do critics place too much or too little emphasis on the sexual aspect of the story? Explain your reasoning.