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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter IV, The Ethics of Elfland, what does Chesterton name as the first principle of democracy?
(a) The essential things are those they hold in common.
(b) Men act as individuals.
(c) The essential things are those they hold as individuals.
(d) Men act within the body of citizens.

2. "[T]he happiness depended on not doing something which you could at any moment do and which, very often, it was not obvious why you should not do." (Chesterton 2000, pg 215) What is Chesterton's opinion of this condition for happiness?
(a) He thinks it is unjust.
(b) He thinks it is just.
(c) He thinks it is immaterial.
(d) He thinks it depends on the fairy tale.

3. What does Chesterton assert as a necessity for the human mind?
(a) Belief in objective truth.
(b) Belief in the power of progress.
(c) Some type of religious grounding.
(d) Belief in the Christian God.

4. Why does Chesterton say that someone might be entertained by reading the book Orthodoxy?
(a) Chesterton's quest was fruitless from the beginning, but it took him a long time to realize it.
(b) Chesterton has a good sense of humor.
(c) Chesterton wandered far to discover the truths he could have found in the nearby church.
(d) Chesterton tells stories rather than arguing a point.

5. What does evolution destroy, according to Chesterton?
(a) Modern intelligence.
(b) Reason.
(c) Science.
(d) Religion.

Short Answer Questions

1. Chesterton boils democracy down to one ideal. What is this?

2. In Chapter One, what has Christianity named the mixture of the well-known and the unknown?

3. Why does Chesterton call the cross "the symbol at once of mystery and of health?" (Chesterton 2000, pg. 188).

4. What is the "false theory of progress?" (Chesterton 2000, pg. 196)

5. In fairy tales and fiction, what change does Chesterton name that makes the stories monotonous?

Short Essay Questions

1. Considering the fact that elf land is more rational than the scientific world is, why does Chesterton say that magic flourishes in elf land?

2. "But it is a much more massive and important fact that he [the materialist] is not free to raise, to curse, the thank, to justify, to urge, the punish, to resist temptation, to incite mobs, to make New Year resolutions, to pardon sinners, to rebuke tyrants, or even to say 'thank you' for the mustard" (Chesterton 2000, pg 185). What is the context for this statement? Does it logically follow from Chesterton's argument?

3. What is "the false theory of progress" (Chesterton 2000, pg 196)? What implications does it have for daily life?

4. Materialistic fatalism has been credited with being merciful, though Chesterton says this is far from the truth. Why can fatalism not be merciful?

5. As he begins to talk about fairy land, what does Chesterton argue about rationalism? How does this open the door to excitement in the world?

6. Why does Chesterton claim that fairyland is more rational than the scientific world? Does the sense of wonder remain?

7. In Chapter IV, The Ethics of Elfland, what does Chesterton give as the first two principles of democracy? How does he convey a sense of wonder even in these principles?

8. The only authority for Chesterton's argument is the Apostles' Creed. Is this more or less effective than appealing to the Bible as the sole authority?

9. How does Chesterton explain the idea of the madman in life, in experience? How does this person live in the world?

10. Chesterton asserts that though the world has its share of evils, the modern virtues actually have a more devastating effect. How does he support this radical idea? What relationship does this have to Christianity?

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