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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. What does the narrator say motivates the corporations?

2. Where does the narrator travel?

3. Where is the mysterious sketch left?

4. What does the narrator figure the sketch is?

5. What does the narrator tell the person he encounters?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Wil tell the narrator about Soul Groups?

2. Wwho seems to lead the narrator into the valley, where does he go and what does he do?

3. What does Wil and the narrator become aware of in Maya's dream?

4. What does Joel say to the narrator about his beliefs?

5. What do Wil and the narrator do with Williams and what do they learn about him?

6. What happens in the narrator's initial encounter with Maya?

7. What does the narrator discuss with Webber about his intentions and what kind of agreement was reached?

8. What kind of sound does Lipcomb and the narrator hear, what do they see, what does the narrator suggest and what is Lipcomb's response?

9. What does Maya say about healing?

10. What does Wil and the narrator realize about where they are and what do they see Joel experiencing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some of the theories expounded in this section are certainly interesting - the idea, for example, that past unresolved conflicts are the source for present tension, and the idea that Soul Groups are unified by what might be described (but which actually aren't) as a talent.

1. Discuss what the ramifications would be for individuals if much of their behavior and personality were a result of previous lives.

2. If Soul Groups were indeed true, discuss in detail why it would be logical for them to be grouped as like talents.

3. For the sake of argument, assume reincarnation is true and argue for or against the idea that animals also experience reincarnation.

Essay Topic 2

On the second (spiritual) level of analysis, Chapter 2 introduces the key concepts of the Group of Seven and the Fear, both of which define and motivate the action to follow. Of the two, the Fear is perhaps the more significant, in that as a concept, its influence (according to the book's spiritual perspective) reaches beyond the boundaries of the narrative and into the way the world functions. It is in many ways a spiritual antagonist, if not THE spiritual antagonist, to the enlightenment sought by the characters.

1. Why do you think the Fear could be called the spiritual antagonist to the enlightenment sought by the characters. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. Many religions and philosophies state emphatically that love is the key to the evolution, spiritual advancement or solution to the problems of humanity. There are also those who say fear is the opposite of love. In this context, explain the ways in which the Fear has impeded human evolution. Use examples from the text to support your answer.

3. Explain the key concepts of the Group of Seven and how you think these concepts would be able to overcome the Fear as it is defined by this book.

Essay Topic 3

If a story can be likened to a jigsaw puzzle, the construction of a narrative telling that story can be likened to the careful placement of pieces of that puzzle in order to slowly, tantalizingly, and inevitably fill the reader with the desire to see the whole picture. In that sense, the telling of this particular story functions well, with details of meaning, incident, and relationship complimenting and illuminating each other with highly intriguing results.

1. What do you think the first sentence above means? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

2. In view of all the novels you have read or heard about or movies you have seen, explain why leaving readers with a "what happens next" question is universal. Use examples from this book and other books you have read to illustrate this principle and why it is used.

3. Do you believe the second sentence is true? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

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