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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 John tell his son he regrets?

2. What does Edward quote as they play catch?

3. Who put up the swing for John's son?

4. John states that "there were barrels on the street corners" so that contributions could be made to the war effort. What is placed in these barrels?

5. In John's house, which he has lived in since being a small boy, what is in the home that was the same from his childhood?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the story John's father tells him about John Brown's mule?

2. What are John's feelings and descriptions of baptism?

3. What are John's thoughts on the Lord's Supper? How does his son figure into this account?

4. What are John's feelings about baseball, and what incidents contributed to those feelings?

5. Why does John feel that his memories of fleeting incidents are so vivid to him?

6. How does John describe himself as a younger man?

7. What are some of John's impressions of Tobias and his son?

8. Describe some of the events John and his father faced in their journey to Kansas.

9. Briefly recount the story John's grandfather and his friends used to tell about the citizens of a little abolitionist town.

10. Describe the preaching John's grandfather did after coming back from the war, and how it affected his listeners.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

John preaches a sermon based on the story of Hagar and Ishmael. It is suggested that John's inner life is played out in his sermons. Evaluate the sermons presented in the novel as a whole and discuss other parallels between John's sermons and occurrences in his life.

Essay Topic 2

C. S. Lewis wrote a partial autobiography, "Surprised by Joy," in 1955. This same concept, of being surprised by feelings of joy, elation, or even peace, is a common thread in "Gilead." Describe evidences in John's life that show that many times he was "surprised by joy," and how this gives understanding into both his character and how he responds to various situations in the book.

Essay Topic 3

In pages 202 - 215, we have John revealing parts of his character, especially in his relationship with his wife. Discuss those revelations as they deal with his wife. Look for any other summaries of the novel's themes as found in this section, and identify any points which point toward John going through a transition in his beliefs.

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