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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 does White come to believe about his sexual orientation?

2. What does Rushdoony argue the book of Leviticus authorizes?

3. How does Mel assist right-wing Christian leaders such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell?

4. Where do Gary and White move in 1990?

5. What does Mel tell his parents after meeting Tom?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does White handle his relationship with David as far as Lyla is concerned?

2. What does White say about attempts by gays to become heterosexual?

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

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

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

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

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

8. What happens to end White's relationship with Tom Montgomery?

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

10. What is the Truth in Love campaign?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Mel White at the beginning of the novel to him at the end of the novel. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they both sympathetic characters? Which "Mel White" would you most likely have as a friend? Why?

2. Compare/contrast Lyla at the beginning of the novel to Lyla at the end of the novel. . How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why?

3. Compare/contrast Mel White to Jerry Falwell. How are they alike? How are they different? Are they sympathetic characters? Who would you most likely have as a friend? Why? Is each one compassionate? Honorable? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in Stranger at the Gate. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of sexual orientation versus sexual preference. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters believe that sexual behavior is predicated upon preference? Why? Which characters believe that sexual behavior is predicated upon a genetic orientation? Why? Which view is the one you hold? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of forgiveness. What is Mel's view of forgiveness? Falwell's? Tom Montgomery? Lyla's? Which characters believe forgiveness is necessary? Which ones seem to refuse to forgive? What is forgiveness? Are Christians the only ones concerned with the idea of forgiveness?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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