View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Jesus's defense to save himself from God hunting him?

2. Jesus realizes that the central figure in all of his dreams is __________.

3. Who keeps Philip from murdering Jesus?

4. What is Abbot Joachim's last speech about?

5. The ants, the lizard and the butterflies convince Jesus of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Jesus and Nathaniel talk about at the wedding of Nathaniel's nephew?

2. How is Jesus described in Chapter 1?

3. Why does Judas decide not to kill Jesus at the monastery?

4. Where does Jesus go in Chapter 6?

5. At the beginning of the novel, how does Jesus feel about God's demands that he preach the Kingdom of Heaven?

6. What does the Zealot do immediately before and during his crucifixion?

7. What is the subject of Joachim's last speech to the monks?

8. What is the significance of the snakes, according to Jeroboam, Simeon, and Jesus?

9. What does Jesus tells Simeon at the end of Chapter 10?

10. Why does the mob chase Mary Magdalene to Capernaum?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Jesus wakes up on the cross, realizing that he is not a coward or traitor, he shouts "IT IS ACCOMPLISHED!" However, Kazantzakis comments that he could have instead shouted, "Everything has begun." What is the significance of this statement? What does Kazantzakis mean by this? What is Jesus's legacy? How did he change the world? What, specifically, began with his crucifixion, and why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Matthew writes one account of Jesus's genealogy, but he is forced by an angel to change what he has written, so that it is in accordance with prophecy. How does Matthew feel about doing so? Why? How does Jesus feel when he reads it? Why? Why does the angel force Matthew to lie? What is Kazantzakis trying to say about his views on scripture? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Jesus's disciples follow him, but with varying degrees of devotion, and all are cowardly when the time comes for Jesus's execution. Why do some of the disciples choose to follow Jesus, despite all of their doubts? Why does their courage fail them when Jesus is being executed? Why does Simon still stand by Jesus when the others won't and condemn them for their timidity? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 908 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample