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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. Why were the narrator and Webber able to escape an earthquake without injury?

2. What does John Donald Williams experience?

3. What is described in the Bible's Book of Revelation that, according to Joel, some people believe is happening?

4. With whom does Joel Lipscomb have an encounter?

5. What does the narrator say motivates the corporations?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Webber explain to the narrator about the Experiment and his involvement?

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

3. What does Williams see in his life review that also involves Long Eagle?

4. What was the main event which brought the narrator to an Appalachian valley at the beginning of the book?

5. What does Webber intuitively feel as he and the narrator talk and what happens right after that feeling?

6. 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?

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

8. What does Wil say might be the reason no one fully understands the Tenth Insight?

9. What does Long Eagle say about Charlene?

10. What does the narrator do first upon waking the next morning, how does he feel and what does he think about his injury?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What the author is researching and discovering are old truths recycled here as they have been throughout the centuries. It could be argued that this is part of his narrative and thematic point, that humanity has been aware of the truths being espoused but has been unwilling and/or unable to fully act on them (because, the narrator/author would probably say) of the Fear.

1. Why do you think the truths the author is espousing are old ones known and thought about throughout the ages? Use examples to support your opinion. Use research if necessary.

2. Do you think that that the author writing about old truths is part of his narrative and thematic point, that humanity has been aware of the truths being espoused but has been unwilling and/or unable to fully act on them? Why or why not? Use examples to support your opinion.

3. How do you think fear blocks people from becoming enlightened? How much do you think human reactions and behaviors are based on fear? Use examples to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 6, and indeed throughout the novel, storytelling can clearly be seen as a function of thematic agenda - what happens happens because the author wants to make his philosophical point. This manifests here perhaps more blatantly and directly from other novels without such overt agendas, but at its core the purpose of storytelling remains the same no matter what story is being told - to awaken some sort of reaction and/or increased insight in the reader.

1. Explain, with examples why the first sentence above is true.

2. Why do you think a novel that overtly has an agenda would use most of the actions of the characters, the subplots, the behaviors and situations to advance that agenda more so than a typical novel.

3. Do you think the purpose of storytelling is the same no matter what story is being told - to awaken some sort of reaction and/or increased insight in the reader? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The narrator remembers a previous life. In this life, narration reveals, the narrator was a monk, initiated into an understanding of the Insights and determined to bring them into the wider experience of the Christian church. While being persecuted, he pretended to have an ankle injury to buy himself more time to write out and distribute copies of the first Nine Insights, but was eventually arrested, imprisoned and executed.

1. Given the interest the narrator has in spiritual principles in his present life, explain why his vision of a past life, e.g. being a monk, would be a logical type of past life the narrator might see.

2. With research, if needed, explain why any spiritual system such as the Insights would be contrary to and threatening to the Christian church. Use examples to support your answer.

3. If the Nine Insights have been known for as long as the author asserts, why do you think only a handful of people actually know about them? What might this say about spiritual paths in general? What might this say about the importance of spirituality to the majority of humans?

(see the answer keys)

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