View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is David?

2. With whom does Mel say Lyla becomes a co-conspirator?

3. What evangelist goes to jail before White can help the evangelist write a book?

4. What do some of the religious right say homosexuals want as far as children are concerned?

5. How do Mel and Lyla's children respond to the divorce?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does White find peace in his new church in Dallas?

2. What does the religious right try to push through in Oregon, and what does White do about it?

3. What did White plan to do while scuba diving in Hawaii? What changed his mind?

4. Where do Gary and Mel move? With what decision does Mel struggle?

5. What was Mel White determined to do after the end of his relationship with Tom?

6. What does Mel say that the religious right increasingly claimed and what was one of those claims?

7. Who was Michael Piazza, and what did he offer White?

8. Who does White help in the 1970s among the rising Christian political movement?

9. What group does Jerry Falwell form, and who influenced his founding of it?

10. Why does White decide to accept Piazza's offer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stranger at the Gate is a memoir by Mel White. Discuss the following:

1. Define the word "genre" in the context of literary criticism.

2. Why do you think literature is categorized by genre?

3. Does it help to know how a book is categorized as to its genre before reading it? Explain.

4. Memoir used to be considered inferior to what are considered "the classics." Why do you think this is so? Do you believe a book such as Stranger at the Gate is inferior to something such as A Tale of Two Cities? Explain.

5. What is your favorite genre and why?

Essay Topic 2

Though Stranger at the Gate is a non-fiction memoir, it has some of the characteristics of a bildungsroman. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Mel as he changes from a rather naive boy to a more self aware man. What are the significant events that change Mel White?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Mel's growth, do you think Stranger at the Gate could be considered Mel's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other persons in Stranger at the Gate who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Stranger at the Gate help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Stranger at the Gate? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in Stranger at the Gate to discuss and compare Mel's or Lyla's response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,036 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample