1. Twain's caravan stops at a fountain for a rest period on its way to Damascus. What observation does Twain make at this fountain, and how does it make him feel?

2. Baalbek's landscape is dotted with temples and ancient escarpments, making the location feel timeless and overwhelming. How do Twain and his friends feel about Baalbek?

3. In Chapter 60, Twain relates a humorous tale of an experience he had on the ship. What is the tale about, and how does it proceed?

4. The first place that the pilgrims want to visit in Jerusalem is the Holy Sepulcher. What is the draw of this location?

5. As the caravan gets closer to Baalbek, Twain begins to tell relevant stories from the Bible. What stories does Twain relate, and how does he feel about the Syrians at this point in the story?

6. Because the travelers are not permitted in Greece, they decide to move on to Turkey. What are some of the dubious customs of Turkey, and what does Twain say about those customs when comparing them to those of America?

7. Twain and his friends are sure they are going to run into problems finding enough provisions for their trip to Damascus. What happens while their are in Lebanon to change their minds?

8. On the one-year anniversary of the excursion, Twain returns to say an encore farewell. What does he say about the trip, and what advice does he give future excursionists?

9. Mark Twain is eager to oblige the New York Herald's request for a complimentary summary of the excursion . What does Twain do to make the document more readable and user friendly?

10. The group finally reaches Damascus. How do the citizens of Damascus feel about Christians and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several situations mentioned in the book that Twain finds disturbing, such as the naked girl in Egypt. Describe another situation that Twain finds disturbing. Why do you think these events have such an impact on his psyche? Is it simply because it is something not commonly seen in America, or do you think it has something to do with prejudice? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

There are many points in the story where Twain notes that, though he cannot see or visualize something, it must be true because it was written about. What does this say about Twain? What does this say about his faith in the written word? Select a particular instance that outlines this.

Essay Topic 3

Based upon the advertisement at the beginning of the story, what do you think the passengers' expectations were? Do you think they were met? If not, what do you think specifically disappointed them and why? Do you think this was a case of false advertising? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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