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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. Buechner recalls the lectures that had taken place ____ years earlier.

2. What unusual item did the family have in the house?

3. Which is a song often sung by the author's parents while they were out on car rides?

4. Freddy feels it is important to know what ____ is saying.

5. What hymn was often sung to Freddy and his brother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What came out of this experience regarding the noise in a person's every day life?

2. How does Freddy carry this character into his future studies and beliefs?

3. Discuss the reference Buechner makes to Dylan Thomas. Which poem is mentioned? What is the theme explored by Buechner?

4. How does Freddy's dependency upon his parents affect him in a negative way?

5. What is Buechner's advice to his readers?

6. Discuss the scenario around the death of Freddy's father.

7. Examine the author's tale of the suppression of grief following his father's death. How does the family run away from the situation?

8. Describe Buechner's experience during the morning when he was attempting to ignore the sound of the carpenters working in the house.

9. What does Freddy most admire about Grandma Buechner? How does Freddy view the relationship between mother and daughter-in-law?

10. Who is Mrs. Taylor? What was her relationship to Freddy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Freddy finally found a style of writing that suited him. What was that style? What types of themes were tackled by Freddy? What was the title of his first book? What was the main theme? Was the book autobiographical? How did Freddy relate his life to the characters and events in the book? Explain. Using the information given in the book, write an outline or synopsis of Freddy's first work.

Essay Topic 2

Examine the concept of memories of the dead. Freddy has definite opinions about the memories of the dead, including the fact that they can grow and change thereby changing each person. Explain the concept of a person changing after death. How can a dead person change? Does the person only change to those that hold their memories? How does the author explain it? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The author spends a great deal of time seeking answers. What types of questions are Buechner most likely to ask? Who does Freddy turn to for wisdom and guidance? Does the author find the answers to the questions he needs answered the most? Explain. Have you ever experienced any similar situations? What was the outcome? Do you think the author will ever receive answers to all of his questions? Explain. Also discuss the overall journey for truth that is relayed in the text.

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