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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. To what church does Tom take White?

2. What do many counselors encourage Mel and Lyla to do?

3. Who is Phyliss Hart?

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

5. What measure does the religious right push in Oregon?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the Truth in Love campaign?

4. What does White say about working with Falwell on the book, If I Should Die Before I Wake?

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

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

7. What do Lyla and Mel finally do? How do the children respond?

8. How do Mel and Lyla stay connected, and what do Christian leaders say about White's new living situation? What does Lyla say in response to the Christian leaders?

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

10. Who is David and how does White meet him?

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

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.

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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