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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 did Jack do to the John's front steps?

2. Where was Jack's wife's father's church located?

3. John writes, "I don't want to be old. And I certainly don't want to be _____________ ."

4. What doctrinal concept does Jack Boughton ask John his views on?

5. What is the topic of the sermon Lila puts by John's bed that was dated June, 1947?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John attempt to love Jack?

2. What are Jack's reasons for coming home to Gilead?

3. Describe the nature of the letters Edward is sending home to his father and brother.

4. What is John's point on preaching on Hagar and Ishmael?

5. What does John believe about the soul in Paradise?

6. John writes an extensive contemplation of the Ten Commandments, focusing on the Fifth Commandment. What are some of his thoughts?

7. What are two memories of pranks that John and Boughton share on Boughton's porch?

8. Contrast how John felt about Lila when first becoming acquainted with her to how he felt about his first wife, Louisa.

9. What is the nature of John and Jack's first discussion at the church?

10. What are John's thoughts on "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The last section of the book, pagers 233 - 247, contains the book's climax. There are three stages to this climax. Identify and discuss each one of these stages.

Essay Topic 2

John is a pastor, as was his father and grandfather before him. The pastorate is obviously linked to the church, and more often than not, the church is identified with a building. Discuss how the church building is a metaphor of the limitations placed on the three generations of Ames men, and how the aging church building in the book is tied to the state we find John in.

Essay Topic 3

"Gilead" has a structure like few other novels. Discuss why Robinson chose to not use chapters or other obvious breaks, how this adds or takes away from an understanding of the book, and how such a narrative propels the plot. Consider: Could "Gilead" have been improved by the inclusion of chapter breaks or other demarcations?

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