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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. After graduating from college, what does Merton do?

2. How does Merton react to his first exposure to death?

3. What encouraged Merton to take another step toward religion in Part 1, Chapter 3?

4. Who are Pop and Bonnemaman?

5. When does Bonnemaman die?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Merton want to enter the monastery early?

2. What important event takes place after Merton's acceptance into the monastery?

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

4. What is the significance of a book Merton purchased at Scribner's?

5. What impact does World War II have on Merton in Part 2, Chapter 2?

6. How does looking at frescoes in Rome impact Merton?

7. What does Merton gain during his summer in Olean?

8. Why does Merton file draft papers as a noncombatant instead of as a conscientious objector?

9. What does Merton learn from the abscessed tooth he suffers?

10. Why might Merton have been embarrassed by his grandfather's visit to France?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Merton spends considerable time feeling guilty about his visits to bars in New York and what he does there. Why does Merton continue to do things he considers to be sinful, and how do Merton's repeated adventures in New York bars impact his desire to be a priest?

Essay Topic 2

Merton expands his understanding of Catholicism essentially by mistake when he purchases "The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy" without knowing it is a Catholic book. Discuss why Merton would be "angry" when he finds he has bought a Catholic book and how reading it changed his mind.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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