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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 position does Lyla hold in high school?

2. What does White not have the ability to do?

3. How does Howard Rutledge survive a very difficult time?

4. For what organization does Mel work?

5. What does Though I Walk Through the Valley concern?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mel White recall about a young seminarian who preached at a church camp Mel attends when he is twelve?

2. What does White worry about on his honeymoon, and how does he solve the problem?

3. Why does Mel think his grandmother Noni was so zealous?

4. Describe how Mel and Lyla met.

5. What do White and Lyla do when they return from their honeymoon?

6. What is Mel's memories of a boy named Darrel at camp?

7. What does Mel say about whom he might blame for his homosexuality and his feeling miserable as an adolescent?

8. From where does Mel say his self hatred arose?

9. Who is Peter W.? What does White write about the young man?

10. What was Lyla like in middle school?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the following:

1. Define irony in literary terms. Discuss the irony of the situation whereby Mel White is a homosexual and works to promote the agendas of men such as Falwell who were rabidly anti-gay. Discuss two other incidences of irony in Stranger at the Gate.

2. Define symbolism in literary terms. Discuss the use of and meaning of five symbols found in Stranger at the Gate. Symbols are inherent in any work of literature, whether fiction or non-fiction, though in non-fiction, the use of symbols is not always intentional.

3. Discuss the use of foreshadowing in non-fiction. What is the purpose of foreshadowing in non-fiction? Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how it is indicates events to come in Stranger at the Gate. Can you as the reader see how what Mel White writes about his early life foreshadows what will happen in his later life?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Do you believe Mel White was hypocritical in continuing to earn a living working for the religious right after he began to realize that he was probably homosexual? Discuss fully with examples from the text.

2. Why do you think Jerry Falwell refused to answer Mel White's letter requesting a discussion with White about homosexuality and the Christian church? Do you think Falwell handled this situation justly? Discuss fully with examples from the text.

3. Discuss the situation when Mel White decides to travel to Acapulco, Mexico to work with Billy Graham instead of traveling to Chicago to live with Tom Montgomery. What does this situation say about White? About Montgomery?

Essay Topic 3

The topic of marriage is woven throughout Stranger at the Gate. Discuss the following:

1. Discuss the attitudes toward marriage that the following persons seem to take: Mel White, Lyla White, Jerry Falwell, Tom Montgomery, Pat Robertson and James Dobson.

2. How do you think the characters listed above are influenced by Christianity in their views of marriage? Discuss thoroughly using examples from the book.

3. Compare/contrast the Christian view of marriage with that of Mel White. How are their views similar? Different? Which views are more like your own?

(see the answer keys)

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