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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. In the same story of the sailor, what is better than discovering a new land?
2. Why does Chesterton assert that tall towers are an example of humility?
3. According to Chesterton, what keeps a man sane?
4. According to Chesterton at the beginning of the first chapter, why did he write the book?
5. How does Chesterton define tradition in political terms?
Short Essay Questions
1. In Chapter III, The Suicide of Thought, what is Chesterton's opinion of the skeptic? Why does the skeptic not have the right to speak out against anything? Why, contrarily, is he always speaking out against things?
2. Why does Chesterton claim that fairyland is more rational than the scientific world? Does the sense of wonder remain?
3. According to Chesterton, the complete skeptic knows that he cannot think anything. How does this differ from the young skeptic? How does the complete skeptic show a true awareness of where he is?
4. "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?
5. Chapter II, The Maniac, begins with the idea that man believing in himself is a weakness. Chesterton asserts this in the face of modern thinking, which says believing in oneself is the strongest way to live. What reasons does Chesterton give for asserting this statement?
6. Why does Chesterton's second notion of fairyland entail praise?
7. In the example of the explorer who only discovers his own land, Chesterton says that his first emotion might be foolishness. This should not be the sole emotion, though. Why does Chesterton name foolishness as the first emotion and how might this fit the religious explorer?
8. What role does Mr. G. S. Street play in the book?
9. 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?
10. Humility is chiefly understood chiefly as a restraint on a man's arrogance and boasting. What is Chesterton's argument concerning humility? What example does he give to illustrate a humble view of the world?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
"For the orthodox there can always be a revolution, for a revolution is restoration." (Chesterton 2000, pg. 264) How is this true? How does this suit or shatter the common understanding of revolution?
Essay Topic 2
Chesterton contrasts pantheism and action - how do they differ? What is the ultimate result of pantheism? How is this distinction related to the differences between Buddhism and Christianity regarding God?
Essay Topic 3
Why is solemnity more natural to man than laughter is? How is this related to Chesterton's claim that man is fundamentally joyful?
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This section contains 1,603 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) |
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