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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 image does Mel have in his mind from Noni's words?

2. What does Mel regret about his time during the civil rights era?

3. What happens to Jeffrey eventually?

4. How does Mel describe his father?

5. When do Mel and Lyla marry?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mel try to avoid being discovered as being gay?

2. How does Mel describe himself as an adolescent?

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

4. Describe how Mel and Lyla met.

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

6. What is Mel afraid to ask the young seminarian and why?

7. How does Lyla become a Christian?

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

9. Describe Mel's relationship with Gordon H.

10. Where does White begin meeting gay men, and who is the "Dr. Smith" that White meets this way?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. The phrase Stranger at the Gate appears in the Christian Bible in the story about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Research the story and write why you think White named his book after that story.

3. If you were the writer of Stranger at the Gate and your editor said the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

4. How do you feel when you have finished reading a book and you still do not understand the meaning of the title in relation to the book?

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

Monogamy and marriage fidelity are topics that occur throughout Stranger at the Gate. Discuss the following:

1. What are the meanings of monogamy and fidelity?

2. Do you think monogamy is realistic in a long-term relationship? Why or why not?

3. Do you believe Mel is committing adultery when he is sexually involved with men though still married? Why or why not?

4. Do you think if gay marriage were legal, homosexual couples would be just as monogamous as heterosexual couples? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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