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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 does Mad Bear drink?

2. What does Paulo say Taddeo's evidence comes from?

3. What does Benjamin say the sign outside his tent means?

4. What does Taddeo request for his journey?

5. Who enters the dining hall at the end of Chapter 20 to see Taddeo?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Gault afraid is Hannegan's intention for the abbey?

2. Describe Zerchi's dream about Rachel.

3. Why does Taddeo think Kornhoer would be valuable to him?

4. Why have nuclear weapons been banned?

5. What power does New Rome give Joshua's colony, in the event of the destruction of the Earth?

6. What makes Paulo lose hope that Taddeo might be able to intervene to prevent the upcoming war?

7. Why can't Cors keep his promise to Zerchi?

8. How does Mad Bear view Taddeo's party?

9. What is the purpose of Quo peregrinaqtur grex?

10. What angers Paulo about the news of the governments' reactions to the nuclear incident?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

What is the nature and meaning of ritual in the novel? What is the purpose of the elaborate ritual of canonization, although the Pope and Vatican are poor? What are the rituals of the monks, and do they serve to preserve knowledge or to hide it? What is the purpose of Francis' ritual fast in the desert? Are these and other rituals in the novel effective? What happens when ritual loses its original meaning?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Simplification.

Part 1) What were the people's motives for the Simplification? Are the goals of the Simplification desirable? What was lost and gained because of the Simplification?

Part 2) Were any of the actions of the Simplification justified?

Part 3) Are the goals of the Simplification realistic or possible?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 660 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample