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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. Why did the grand inquisitor change his mind about religion?

2. Why does Ivan say the inquisitor suffers?

3. What does the grand inquisitor say Jesus wishes from people?

4. What does the inquisitor accuse Jesus of?

5. What does the grand inquisitor say is more powerful than the banner of bread?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the grand inquisitor say Jesus refused in the second temptation?

2. Why does the grand inquisitor accuse Jesus of only caring for the strong?

3. Why does the grand inquisitor say the freedom Jesus gives people is cruel?

4. How will the church finish the Tower of Babel that man has built?

5. Why does the grand inquisitor value the weak?

6. What does the grand inquisitor add to the first question when he restates it to the prisoner?

7. What is it about the grand inquisitor Alyosha can't believe?

8. Why does the grand inquisitor think men fear freedom?

9. Why does the grand inquisitor think bribing man with bread is useless?

10. Who does the church follow instead of Jesus?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the philosophies of Jesus and the grand inquisitor differ? Compare and contrast the two philosophies.

Essay Topic 2

Would the inquisitor be happy or unhappy that Jesus has returned? Take into account the historical setting of the story and the popular viewpoints of the time.

Essay Topic 3

What does Alyosha think about the grand inquisitor's behavior? Why might he be confused about it? What does it mean when he asks if the story is fantasy? Why does Ivan say it doesn't matter if the grand inquisitor had mistaken Jesus' Identity.?

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This section contains 853 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample