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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Nicholas doing in a dream on page 50?

2. On page 85, who does Nicholas say are the mourners?

3. What were people hoisting when Nicholas went to the store?

4. What does the Christian gospel focus on telling Christians?

5. What is the name of the work where this phrase appears, "there must be something more than death..., there must be a promise that is not fulfilled in our short existence in this world."

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Nicholas think the death of a child is so painful?

2. Is Nicholas angry at God because of Eric's death?

3. Why does Nicholas say God suffers?

4. Who are the mourners?

5. What metaphor does Nicholas use to explain faith?

6. Does Nicholas believe that God reveals himself?

7. Why did the ordinariness bother Nicholas when he walked into a store?

8. What types of days can Nicholas manage?

9. What did Job's friends tell him was the reason he lost his children?

10. Why do innocent questions make Nicholas wince?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss how Nicholas explains God and man suffering together and how they find release from suffering together.

Essay Topic 2

Using examples from the book, discuss the struggle that Nicholas had when he tried to return to ordinary life and to his work.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how and why Nicholas explains that man is a reflection of God, using examples from "A Lament for a Son."

(see the answer keys)

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