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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. Chris usually reflects the mood of the Narrator in his

2. In all Oriental religions great value is placed upon

3. The main point of the lecture was that

4. Secondary roads are preferred by the Narrator because

5. Why does the Narrator almost leave the building with Chris?

Short Essay Questions

1. A society which kills multitudes in wars, pollutes the land and oceans, and destroys the dignity of individuals is said to be a higher society than one that hunts and gathers. How can that be rationally explained?

2. What are some of the things John likes about Miles City, Montana? What do these indicate about the city? About John?

3. Chapter 30 is a chapter full of defeat: Phaedrus is unburied; the Narrator is on the brink of insanity again; the Narrator has lost touch with Chris; Chris is despondent and frustrated and angry, and Chris is in danger of following in Phaedrus' footsteps into insanity. What glimmer of hope occurs to the Narrator as he tries to deal with Chris' emotions?

4. Explain one of his more radical teaching techniques.

5. What were the possible reasons John did not want the Narrator to use a beer can to shim his motorcycle handlebars?

6. What does the Narrator mean by referring to Phaedrus' reading of philosophers as the high country of the world of thought?

7. How do the DeWeeses respond to seeing the Narrator again? What are their actions and reactions? What are their emotions and thoughts?

8. Explain what is meant by "Peace of mind produces right values which produce right thoughts which produce right actions which produce work that is inspiring in its completeness with nature and the human mind."

9. Sentence fragments are exchanged between the Narrator and the young woman who comes into the classroom. What do we learn about rumors concerning Phaedrus (the Narrator) that circulated in the English department? What do you think is the young woman's role at the university at this time?

10. Give an example of each type of logic.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the bottom of the ocean symbolize? Do you think the Narrator and Chris meet there? What do they find out about themselves and each other as they attempt to meet? What is the result?

Essay Topic 2

The Narrator says it is good to be in a state of "stuckness." What is "stuckness" and why is a good? What does it allow one's mind to do? Give an example of the Narrator being stuck and then using it to do or say something better than he would have if he had kept going in the original direction.

Essay Topic 3

Various types of evidence can be used as proof of something. Hard evidence of having gone to a concert would be the ticket stub. Memories of what was sung at the concert would be another type of evidence. Intuition that proves true about the best parking spot for the concert is a third type of evidence. Give one example of each of four ways in which the Narrator knows that Phaedrus existed.

(see the answer keys)

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