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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 joins the group when they leave the inn in Part 2?

2. What are the group of pilgrims told they did wrong when they left the gatekeeper’s house?

3. What does Great Heart do to help the group enter House Beautiful?

4. What is the purpose of the commemoration?

5. What is Mercy’s secret hope?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is on the hill that commemorates something, and what does it commemorate?

2. Why does Christiana decide to go on a journey?

3. Where does the group stop shortly after meeting Honest and what are they told there?

4. What does Honest tell the group about Self-Will?

5. What happens to ease the mind of the latest group member and what does Great Heart do after the group sets forth following James’ wedding?

6. How is the group greeted at House Beautiful? What kind of dream does Mercy have?How long does the group stay?

7. What does Honest tell them about Fearing and how does the group feel after hearing that story?

8. What does the group ask Great Heart when they get to House Beautiful and what is his response?

9. Whom does the group ask to join them and what is that person’s worry?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes The Pilgrim’s Progress interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Christian. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Christiana. Is Christiana the hero or protagonist in the narrative or does she serve as an antagonist? How does she contribute to the plot? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Discuss and analyze the character of Great Heart. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character?

4. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of the Interpreter. How does the Interpreter contribute to the novel's plot? Is he aligned with the protagonists of the novel or the antagonists?

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

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.

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