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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 that the empty house was as frail as _____.

2. Everyone should be conscious of what the ____ is/are trying to tell us.

3. Oftentimes one will find _____ where it is least expected.

4. Buechner often told people his father died from which of the following?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the duplicity of Freddy's father and how it affects the child.

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

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

4. Why does Buechner use Eden as a reference? How does it relate to the way people see the world? What is the main difference between the views of adults and children?

5. What is the common thread between Freddy's sudden departure, his father's death and "Gone With The Wind?"

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

7. Discuss the presence of Grandma Buechner. How close is the family to the grandmother?

8. How does Buechner refer to the exact moment when time begins to exist for him?

9. Discuss Freddy's stay in Bermuda. Why did the family have to leave?

10. What is Freddy's opinion regarding the memories of the dead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Freddy exhibits mental instability while he was in the army. What is your opinion on the issue? Was Freddy simply scared of the orders, or were there other factors at work? Do you think the meltdown experienced by Freddy was caused by the situation or was it residual from his childhood? What was the reaction of the commanding officer? What happened to Freddy after he broke down? How did it affect his career? Was Freddy ordered to get help? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Ever since the death of Freddy's father, the author has had a fear of suicide. Discuss the fear of suicide. Did Freddy have any concrete reason for the fear? Was it a childhood fear? Did the fear stay with Freddy throughout his life? How was it addressed? How did the family deal with the death? What about the experience made Freddy afraid that he was destined to follow in his father's footsteps? Also discuss the suicide of the uncle and how it affected Freddy and the rest of the family. Was Freddy correct in wondering if the propensity to commit suicide was hereditary?

Essay Topic 3

Finding God seems to be one of Freddy's most challenging and rewarding experiences in life thus far. Write a 750 word essay on Buechner's quest. Include the reason Freddy began the search, when and how the search for God replaced Freddy's childhood fantasies and connection to King Rinkitink, and how many seemingly fortuitous events led him to the seminary and to his career in religious writings.

(see the answer keys)

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