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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. Where is the second place the group goes when it leaves House Beautiful?

2. Who greets the group at the entrance to the Land of Beulah?

3. After they have left the shepherds, what did the man at the mountain do before he met the group?

4. Whom does the group meet after leaving the mountain in Part 2?

5. What is the basis for Mercy’s worry as the group sets out?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the group do when it prepares to leave and what is the consequence of that action?

2. What happens when the group gets to the Wicket Gate?

3. What do the men of the group do? Who marries James? Who marries Matthew?

4. What does the group see as they come to House Beautiful and how did Christian deal with it? How does Great Heart deal with it?

5. Who visits Christiana while she is preparing to depart and what happens?

6. Where are the first two places the group go after leaving House Beautiful and what does Great Heart do for them?

7. What happens to the group shortly after leaving Vanity?

8. What happens to the group when they leave Goodwill’s house?

9. What does the group’s rescuer tell them and where do they go next? What do they see there first?

10. What happens to the group at DelectableMountain?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Christian represents the common man, who is faced with the question of what will happen to him after death. He is disturbed by images of Hell and chooses to leave his home and family to seek salvation. On the journey, he meets Evangelist, who acts as his spiritual guide. Christian shows his weaknesses in often being detoured from his goal by the forces of evil.

1. Christian is a universal, everyman character even today. To be human is to wonder about death. Discuss how Christian’s images of Hell might represent the universal fear of death. Use examples from The Pilgrim’s Progress and your own experience to support your answer.

2. Discuss the weaknesses and strengths that Christian shows on his journey. Present and analyze examples from The Pilgrim’s Progress to support your answer.

3. Do you think that the “lesser sins” such as sloth or dishonesty are as detrimental to a person’s psyche as the more felonious ones? Why or why not? Use examples from The Pilgrim’s Progress to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following regarding the literary technique of the dream sequence that is employed in The Pilgrim's Progress:

1. What is a dream sequence in narrative literature? How does this term apply to the narrative in The Pilgrim's Progress?

2. What are the advantages of employing a dream sequence or frame in a novel? What are the disadvantages?

3. What does the frame of the dream sequence say about the content of the story itself?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Give a brief biographical sketch of John Bunyan. When and where was he born? Where was he educated?

2. What in Bunyan's background may have helped in writing The Pilgrim’s Progress? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of Bunyan's agenda in writing The Pilgrim's Progress. Analyze the idea as presented throughout the book.

(see the answer keys)

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