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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 does the narrator hide behind some rocks?

2. What is a corporation attempting to do?

3. Why do Maya and the narrator hide?

4. What can the narrator not understand?

5. Why does Maya leave to go to town?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Wil tell the narrator is the reason for him disappearing in Peru?

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

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

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

7. What does Wil say about what he is meant to learn?

8. What does the narrator do that injures him and why did he do it?

9. What does Long Eagle say about Charlene?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

There is a juxtaposition of two highly contrasting characters - the harsh, cynical Joel and the nurturing, insightful Maya (interesting that the cynic is a male and the nurturer is a female). The clear intention here, as the narrator himself realizes, is to create a vivid, embodied sense of the tension between what the narrative indicates are the main sources of energy on this plane of existence - the Fear and the desire to evolve.

1. Compare and contrast the characters of Maya and Joel. How are they different? How are they similar? Are they as contrasting as they seem? Why or why not? Use examples to show the harsh aspects of Maya and any nurturing aspects of Joel you can see.

2. Throughout the history of humanity women have always been thought of as being nurturing, because they bear children, and men as less so. Give an explanation, with examples, of how this view of women has been used to keep them in a lower status in the world than men.

3. Explain what behaviors of Joel indicate he is Fear based in his perspective and what behaviors of Maya's that might indicate she has a desire to evolve and why those behaviors seem to illustrate those two principles.

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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