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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 Taddeo request for his journey?

2. What does Taddeo give Paulo before he leaves?

3. Wat does Taddeo accuse the monks of doing?

4. How does Taddeo react to the stories of monks who have died or gone blind preserving the Memorabilia?

5. What does Cors do when he breaks his promise to the abbot?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the Poet's jokes cause so much upset at the dinner?

2. What is the literary style of the story of the Flame Deluge read to Taddeo at the beginning of Chapter 18?

3. What is Paulo's primary concern at the onset of war?

4. What shocks the abbot most about Kornhoer's invention?

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

6. Describe Mad Bear's political plans.

7. What might lead the reader to believe Benjamin's story about his age?

8. Why does the idea that mankind is a servant race created by a society of betters appeal to Taddeo?

9. How is Zerchi required to practice what he preaches about suffering and euthanasia?

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

Discuss the politics involved in the canonization of Leibowitz and in Hannegan's goal to expand his rule. How do politics affect the development of knowledge? How do politics affect the acceptance of ideas and discoveries?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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