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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 makes his escape doubly difficult?

2. How do the people respond to his reappearance in the village?

3. After he realizes he cannot stay in the village, what promise does the priest make to the people?

4. What is the secret sin of the running priest?

5. What is the situation as the novel opens?

Short Essay Questions

1. What feeling does Greene evoke with the introduction of the mestizo?

2. What is ominous about the parting of the priest and the mestizo?

3. Why does Mr. Trench invite the man into his house?

4. Describe the general situation as the novel opens.

5. What information does the Police chief have to impart to the lieutenant?

6. Why has the priest come to the capital city where he sees the mestizo talking with the police?

7. Describe the condition of Father José at that time.

8. As the lieutenant walks through the town, what indicates that he is the main antagonist in the novel?

9. Who does the priest turn to for help and is refused?

10. In chapter two, how does Greene establish a deep-seated religious faith on the part of common citizens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Greene contrasts the appearance of the Indian burial ground with the tidiness of the mass. The priest sees the burial ground as a shortcut to the dark and magical heart of faith. Write a paper giving your opinion on his meaning there. Include your idea on the necessity of religious trappings for people to be religious.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper on the real conflict in THE POWER AND THE GLORY. Mention where that title phrase comes from (cf. the Lord's prayer) and how it transcends the struggle of the priest to stay alive. Explain in your paper how effectively Greene makes his point.

Essay Topic 3

Interestingly, it is a pair of Lutherans who offer the greatest help to the priest. Write a paper on the importance of religious tolerance in the world. Include in your paper how religious intolerance creates multiple problems that work against peaceful co-existence.

(see the answer keys)

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