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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 the rabbi ask Jesus in Chapter 11?

2. What does Jesus tell Simeon he dreams of doing?

3. Why does Jacob resist when Barabbas drags Mary Magdalene out?

4. What does Jesus believe about the Messiah?

5. Why do the poor look to Jesus in Capernaum?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Philip and Judas talk about after Judas leaves Capernaum?

2. What do Mary and Simeon talk about when he visits her in Chapter 5?

3. Where does Jesus go in Chapter 6?

4. Why doesn't Jesus propose to Mary Magdalene?

5. What does Simeon advise Jesus to do, in Chapter 10, and how does Jesus respond?

6. What transpires between Jesus and Ananias?

7. What is the Curse?

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

9. In Chapter 11, what does Simeon say to Jesus about the possibility of Jesus being the Messiah?

10. What happens between Jesus and Mary Magdalene at sunset, on Jesus's first night in Magdala?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The angel with the green wings is the last one to tempt Jesus and shows him what he could have had if he had not chosen to follow the path God laid out for him. What effect does the angel's interference have on Jesus? How does it change Jesus's attitude toward the events of his life and his crucifixion? Who sent the angel? Why? What is its purpose? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Paul tells Jesus that obstinacy, longing, and faith create truth. The world needs consolation, factual or not. How does Jesus react to these statements? How true are they? What historical examples serve to prove Paul's point? What is Kazantzakis trying to say about faith, religion, and truth? How does Paul's version of truth relate to the kind that Jesus is trying to spread? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Jesus goes into the desert in an attempt to communicate directly with God. Abbot Joachim starves himself in a similar attempt. Who else performs extreme actions to gain the attention of God? Why do they find it necessary to go to such extreme measures to communicate with God? How effective are these methods? What is the final result of their attempts? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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