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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. How does the blind man get Jesus to heal him?

2. What does Ivan tell Alyosha is the chief part of the cardinal's speech?

3. Where is the cardinal when he sees the crowd?

4. What religious character used as a character in fiction does Ivan specifically reference in his "Literary" Preface?

5. Why was the cardinal wearing different clothes the day before Jesus heals the blind girl?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why were the cardinals, the king and his court, the knights, and the whole population of Seville at the auto de fe?

2. What does the cardinal do once he is shut in the room with the prisoner?

3. How is Jesus tempted in the story?

4. Why does the crowd get excited when they recognize Jesus?

5. What is the grand inquisitor's judgment about Jesus' response to the temptation?

6. What is the purpose of the spirit's questions to Jesus In the wilderness?

7. Why does the cardinal come to the prisoner's room alone and in the night?

8. What does Alyosha think of the old man's behavior?

9. Why does Ivan repeatedly mention Dante in his preface?

10. Why does Ivan suggest some people's faith in Jesus become stronger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the view on religion and history expressed by Ivan in his literary preface? What historical events does he reference? What religious ideas does he take for granted as he describes the progress of Christian thought? How does he describe this progress?

Essay Topic 2

How is the church in this story deceiving the people? Are they working truly in the people's best interest?

Essay Topic 3

According to the grand inquisitor, what effect would Jesus providing bread for all have on the world? What reactions would this cause people to have toward him? Why does the grand inquisitor believe Jesus refused this temptation?

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