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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. News soon reaches the family regarding which historic event?

2. Which vow have the members of the group taken?

3. What unusual grade does Freddy receive on one of his papers?

4. Potentially significant events often hide themselves in _____.

5. One of Buechner's most valuable lessons is that ____ is a gift.

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Freddy compare Oz to a higher power?

2. What positive event occurred at the end of the weekend at the monastery?

3. Examine Freddy's new life in boarding school. How does Freddy relate to the other kids?

4. What new goal does Freddy set at this time? What is the main hindrance to the goal?

5. How does Freddy view Naya? What do the woman and the boy have in common? What is special about the woman?

6. Explain the atmosphere at Princeton. What is the cause of the students' feelings? How are they handled?

7. How does Buechner view the "beyond time" events that occur after he leaves Princeton?

8. How does religion begin to creep into Freddy's work? What comparisons are made to other works of art?

9. Explain Buechner's "beyond time" moment with a former school friend. What is the realization that comes from the event?

10. How does this theme relate to Buechner's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Frederick Buechner's father committed suicide when the boy was ten years old and his brother Jamie was eight years old. Discuss the events leading up to Mr. Buechner's death. Discuss how it affected each of the boys. What is Freddy's initial reaction to the news? What is Jamie's initial reaction? What were the first steps taken by Kathy and/or Grandma Buechner? Also discuss the reactions of Kathy and Grandma Buechner when they learned about the death.

Essay Topic 2

Foreshadowing is used several times in the book. Point out the three strongest examples of foreshadowing used by the author. Explain each. Do you think the foreshadowing was intentional or did it happen as a matter of course? Discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Freddy was somewhat obsessed with the Land of Oz. From an early age, Freddy was enthralled by the OZ series and its characters. Freddy talks a lot about King Rinkitink. Explain in detail the Land of Oz, its characters, and why it appealed to Freddy.

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