View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What book does Bramachari recommend to Merton?

2. What did Pop do that embarrassed Merton?

3. Where does Merton attend his first Mass?

4. What words best describe Merton at the university?

5. Where did Merton attend school in England while with his aunt?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Merton describe his feelings about the monasteries of Gethsemani and St. Francis of Assisi in Part 3, Chapter 2?

2. What does Mark Van Doren do that made Merton afraid of losing his dream?

3. How does Merton feel about living with his father's friends after his mother's death?

4. Why does Merton introduce characters like Andrew into his story?

5. In Part 3, Chapter 1, how does the reader know that God is the main focus of Merton's thoughts?

6. Describe Merton's reaction to his brother's baptism.

7. How does the Baroness help Merton find his calling?

8. How did Merton feel about moving to England?

9. What does Merton view as a cure for his sinfulness?

10. How is it shown in Part 1, Chapter 3, that literature was important in Merton's life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Merton experienced times of unhappiness during his childhood. What experiences described in the book show that Merton was sometimes unhappy as a child? Discuss the impact of these childhood experiences on Merton's later life.

Essay Topic 2

Merton becomes involved with the student publications at Columbia University. Discuss in detail how working on these publications affects Merton's writing career and his spiritual quest.

Essay Topic 3

Merton's mother died during the early formative years of his life. Merton's father was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1929 and died during Merton's adolescence. Using examples from the book, compare and contrast the impact on Merton's life of each of these deaths.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 739 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample