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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 quality could Blue not view with Christian forbearance?

2. What kind of mood is Blue rarely in?

3. According to the narrator, what is the backbone of civilization?

4. What vocation does Blue find?

5. Fill in the following quote by Blue in Chapter VII: "But this life is so beautiful that I am _____________ of it sometimes."

Short Essay Questions

1. What religion is Blue?

2. What is the narrator's response to Blue's death?

3. What do the sixth and seventh letters have in common?

4. How is Blue treated by his coworkers at the lumberyard?

5. How does Blue end up in the hospital?

6. Do you think Blue is a real person?

7. Why does Blue have to leave the top of the Tootsall Building?

8. In what letter does Blue describe his view of the end of the world?

9. What job does Blue take in Chapter VII?

10. How many letters does the narrator have from Blue? Who are they from?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mr. Blue is guided by deep Christian values. Explore these values and how they affect how Mr. Blue lives his life.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter VI, when Blue and the narrator reached dinner, the narrator worried aloud that Blue was too serious for the happiest person on earth. It turns out that Blue is frightened due to his happiness. Analyze Blue's thoughts on happiness. What scares Blue about his happiness? What is the cost of happiness? How does Blue think he will have to pay this?

Essay Topic 3

What is the narrator's reaction to Mr. Blue's death? What does this say about the narrators thoughts on religion? Do you think it is fair that Mr. Blue died, yet the narrator is still living? Who is more 'worthy' to be alive?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 600 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample