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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. With what does the Abbot hit Francis?

2. What confession prompts Cheroki to withhold absolution from Francis?

3. What is Brother Francis building?

4. Who does the Pope ask to come to New Rome?

5. What does the pilgrim have to eat?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Taddeo view the modern-day common man?

2. Describe the Valley of the Misborn.

3. How does Francis interpret the inscription "Transistorized Control System for Unit six-B"?

4. Describe Francis's life before the monastery.

5. Why is Arkos glad to have the Dominicans investigating Francis's find?

6. Why doesn't Francis want to join the Pope's crusade?

7. What is Taddeo's attitude toward the clergy and the Church?

8. How does the Pope treat the clan chief?

9. What is Brother Francis seeking in the desert?

10. Why were papers burned during the Simplification?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the nature of knowledge in the novel.

Part 1) What do the Memorabilia represent? Why do the monks want to preserve it?

Part 2) Is knowledge good or evil or neutral? What are the consequences, positive and negative, of mankind's gaining of knowledge? How does knowledge in the novel relate to the story of the Garden of Eden and the fall of man for tasting the fruit of the tree of knowledge?

Part 3) Can knowledge be permanently lost?

Essay Topic 2

The novel contains many objects that take on meaning and importance to the characters. Choose one of the following characters and objects and discuss the significance of the object to that character.

1) Discuss the significance of Leibowitz's blueprint to Francis.

2) Discuss the significance of the Poet's eye to the Poet.

3) Discuss the significance of the wooden statue of Leibowitz to the three abbots.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, various characters take on tasks they find worthwhile, devoting their time and energy to them. Francis spends his life making an illuminated version of the Leibowitz blueprint. Taddeo spends his life trying to understand physics and recreate the science of the past. Hannegan spends his life trying to conquer neighboring areas and expand his rule. Kornhoer attempts to recreate the technology of electric light. Zerchi fights to stop euthanasia of terminal radiation poisoning patients, while Dr. Cors tries to help patients by either treating them or recommending euthanasia. These are just a few examples; feel free to choose your own examples from the novel.

Choose two characters and their respective tasks to compare and contrast. What do the characters hope to gain from their work? What do others think of their work? What do they accomplish, and how does it live on in the future?

(see the answer keys)

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