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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. Where does the unwelcome guest claim to have gotten the Old Jew's goat?

2. How much weight has Francis lost during his vigil?

3. How does Francis try to get the illumination back?

4. Does Francis believe the strange pilgrim was supernatural?

5. What is Brother Francis building?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Francis's life before the monastery.

2. Describe Abbot Paulo's health problem.

3. Why are a shopping list and casual notes treasured finds for Brother Francis?

4. Compare the robber's view of the illuminated blueprint and the original relic to Francis's.

5. Why doesn't Francis merely tell the abbot what he wants to hear?

6. What did Leibowitz do after the Flame Deluge?

7. Why does the Church have a Devil's Advocate?

8. What is Brother Francis seeking in the desert?

9. Describe Taddeo's ideas about history.

10. Describe the pilgrim.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the Old Jew.

Part 1) What is the Old Jew's true identity? Can you make a case for more than one possible identity? What evidence is there for his identity?

Part 2) What role does he play in the story? Why is he in all three parts of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Original Sin in the novel.

Part 1) Does Original Sin doom mankind to self-destruction? How does Original Sin show in mankind's actions throughout all three parts of the novel?

Part 2) How does Rachel represent a break from Original Sin?

Part 3) Does Original Sin doom mankind on colonies in space? Does the novel give any hope for overcoming Original Sin?

Essay Topic 3

Compare the three abbots who control the Albertine Order of Leibowitz. What are their goals and fears? How do they see their duty toward the Memorabilia, the Order, and the Church? In what different ways do they carry out those duties?

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