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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 Ellen Cherry paint shortly after beginning work at the I & I?

2. After Boomer picks Ellen Cherry up in the Turkey, where do they go?

3. How is Colonial Pines described?

4. Who dreams about Rebuilding the Temple?

5. Why does Boomer think that Ellen Cherry "can't be married to a man"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Robbins say about religion at the end of the Fourth Veil?

2. Can 'o Beans says that "imprecise speech is one of the major causes of mental illness in human beings." What do you think is meant by this?

3. What do you think is significant about the fact that Boomer and Ellen Cherry wake up Painted Stick and Conch Shell?

4. All of the objects are given a gender except Can 'o Beans. Why is this significant?

5. The Third Veil turns out to be the veil of political illusion. Robbins says that politics is "the compulsion to preside over property and make other people's decisions for them." He says that liberty can't be a result of political action. In what ways does this seem true and in what ways not true?

6. What are some ways you can interpret Boomer's spy coat sculpture in which he declares his love for Ellen Cherry in a 500 different encoded messages?

7. Describe the sculpture that Boomer is bringing to Jerusalem to reassemble.

8. Describe Ellen Cherry and Boomer's relationship since he's become an well-known artist.

9. What do you think Robbins is saying by personifying objects and having them secretly move?

10. Describe why Boomer says he feels guilty about his success as an artist.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several ideas about art and the role of the artist are explored throughout the novel. Choose three characters and compare their ideas of art and the artist. In order to accomplish this, you have to define or characterize each character's theory or art. You may choose any character that you can develop a coherent theory of art for, but some of the more obvious choices are Ellen Cherry, Boomer, Ultima, and Buddy.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the historical account in this novel, including Robbins' interpretations of the events with the generally accepted historical view. This requires some basic research. Be careful to limit your comparison to a manageable sequence of events. For example, do not try to track the entire historical background from the first temple to modern day Jerusalem. Choose a coherent part of the history detailed in the novel and limit yourself to that. You could, for example, choose to focus on the Jerusalem from the first temple to the second. Or, you might focus on the 20th century conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Essay Topic 3

Compare the two stories of Salome. How does the ancient version of Salome compare to the modern version? The ancient Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for John the Baptist's head on a plate. The modern Salome dances in response to Ellen Cherry's mural during the Super Bowl.

(see the answer keys)

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