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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. Who is Reverend Michael Piazza?

2. How did Mel view Jerry Falwell when Mel worked with the man?

3. What does Falwell and other evangelists use to further their own causes?

4. For what does White praise President Clinton?

5. What did White worry about concerning his family?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does White write a letter to Falwell? What is Falwell's response?

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

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

4. How does White's parents react to his telling them of his homosexuality?

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

6. How does Tom Montgomery maintain his spirituality despite being angry with the Religious Right?

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

8. What worries White about the religious right's rhetoric about homosexuality?

9. Who is R. J. Rushdoony? What is his view about homosexuality and White's thoughts about that?

10. Describe White's first meeting with Gary Nixon.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Stranger at the Gate ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are at least three reasons to read non-fiction? Discuss each one in light of Stranger at the Gate and if it fulfills some or all of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Stranger at the Gate is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Would you have wished the ending to be different? Why or why not? Would that ending have changed what the author wished to convey with the book?

(see the answer keys)

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